France claims racist motives of Chechen natives' clashes with Arabs

The clashes that broke out in the French city of Dijon of members of the Chechen Diaspora with local residents of Arab origin continue. The city's prosecutor said the clashes were racist in nature and directed against "natives from the Maghreb."

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, at least ten people were injured in a conflict involving natives from Chechnya in Dijon.

As reported by Le Figaro, Eric Mate, the Dijon City Prosecutor, has stated about the "Chechens' punitive operation after their representative was wounded, probably, within the framework of the fight against drug dealing." On June 10, a 16-year-old young man from the Chechen community was beaten up by drug dealers.

In their interview to the France 3 and the France Bleu Radio, members of the Chechen Diaspora told about the motive for combating "drug dealers" and said they wanted to force the Arab community to punish the offenders. The clashes involved "up to 140 people."

Dijon is the third French city notable for the "Chechens' struggle against drug dealing." On May 11, Le Figaro reported that in Nice Chechens declared a hunt for drug dealers; and in March, a similar incident occurred in Toulouse.

"It all started when they began settling Chechen refugees together with Maghrebins in cheap housings in insecure districts. And when drug dealing is performed in one's house, the whole house suffers," said Magomed B., a former employee of a security company.