St. Petersburg police were fired on while attempting to break up a mass brawl between disgruntled bus drivers, news site Fontanka.ru reported Thursday.
Having been tipped off to a looming showdown at the station, police from the city's anti-extremism department arrived at the scene before the fight broke out. But they were taken by surprise when nearly 40 men arrived to take part in the confrontation, the report said.
In the ensuing melee, four police officers attempted to detain members of the group, who responded by firing off warning shots at the policemen's feet, according to Fontanka.ru.
City police confirmed in an official statement that one police officer sustained a leg injury in the tussle.
Eight men were detained in connection with the incident. All of them face charges for assaulting a police officer, and one faces the more serious charge of firing at a police officer, according to the statement.
The cause of the conflict was not immediately clear, but was likely connected to a business dispute between rival bus drivers, Fontanka.ru reported.
The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at a bus station near the city's Avtovo metro station, according to the report.
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.
