A 28-year-old unemployed man suspected of working for a Chelyabinsk crime group was detained in the region as part of an ongoing investigation into a mass brawl that saw dozens of music fans beaten up at a rock festival in August.
Police think Andrei Kurdyukov was among the group of thugs that beat up about 40 concertgoers and a policeman, purportedly at the request of a local cafe owner who had a quarrel with a customer during the festival in the city of Miass, the local news web site Chelyabinsk.ru reported Wednesday.
Three other suspects have also been detained. All detainees, including Kurdyukov, face up to seven years in jail on hooliganism charges.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.