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Police looking for eyewitnesses of journalist's conflict with Chechens

A conflict broke out between Panchenko, 29, and young people at the Park Kultury subway station overnight to Monday

MOSCOW, October 2 (Itar-Tass) — Moscow police have asked eyewitnesses of the conflict between a journalist and three Chechens at the Park Kultury subway station to contact them with additional information.

"Moscow police are asking all eyewitnesses of the incident at the Park Kultury subway station which occurred overnight to Monday to report," the press service of the Interior Ministry's main department for the Russian capital told on Tuesday. The testimony of two girls are very important. Journalist of the Petersburg-based Internet publication "Fontanka" Kirill Panchenko was hurt in a fight with the three Chechens as he was defending the girls.

All the eyewitnesses are requested to contract Moscow subway police, unit # 4 at 8 /495/ 622 17 27.

A conflict broke out between Panchenko, 29, and young people at the Park Kultury subway station overnight to Monday. It escalated to a fight. Panchenko said he had defended two girls until police had come to stop the fight. Doctors said the journalist suffered concussion, numerous abrasions and lacerated wounds of arms.

Police said the suspects - three residents of the Chechen republic aged 20 to 23 who had lived in Moscow illegally - were detained near the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina /Lenin Library/ subway station. An examination of CCTV records showed that it was these youngsters who had beaten up the "Fontanka" journalist.

Criminal proceedings were opened over hooliganism. Police accompanied the journalist to the railway station where he took a train to St Petersburg.