MOSCOW, July 10 (Itar-Tass) - Chairman of the Russian president's council for human rights Mikhail Fedotov believes there was no ethnic conflict behind the murder in the town of Pugachyov, Saratov region and that it was a domestic crime.
"We've discussed this topic. It's absolutely obvious that the murder was not committed because of ethnic hate. It's a domestic murder. Someone found it very advantageous to make it a political event. It's a very dangerous game," Fedotov told a news conference in Moscow on Wednesday.
Thousands of people took to the highway
As previously reported, several thousands of people attended the procession on the highway. The police tried to prevent the passage and blocked the road, but people broke through the police chain.
Residents of Pugachyov have tried to shut off the highway the day before, after a meeting near the administration building, where they raised protest against migrants from the Caucasus, but the police managed to stop them.
One of the rallies has nearly turned into a mass brawl.
The cause of mass protests
The murder of 20-year-old Ruslan Marzhanov caused outbreak among local residents. A few days ago the young man had a quarrel with a 16-year-old guest from Chechnya. The latter has hit Marzhanov with a lancet and the victim of the attack has died in the hospital.
The murder suspect has been arrested for two months.
State Duma insists on prompt investigations
State Duma deputy and member of the Central Staff of the All-Russia People’s Front Michael Starshinov made an inquiry to the administration of the Investigative Committee of the General Prosecutor's Office, the Interior Ministry and the FSB.
Starshinov asked head of the Investigation Committee Alexander Bastrykin to take the investigation of the criminal case under personal control. The MP said he expects a prompt and impartial investigation of the events in Pugachyov and bring to justice all those responsible.