21 March 2007, 22:30
Clashes of Kazakhs with Chechnya natives in Kazakhstan
On March 20, it became known about mass collisions between natives of Chechnya and Kazakhs that burst out in Kazakhstan. There are casualties and injured persons from both sides. Despite the emergency measures taken by local authorities, members of Chechen Diaspora are afraid of further pogroms. In their turn, representatives of the Kazakhstan authorities think that the forces oppositional to President Nursultan Nazarbaev are trying to expose the conflict as an interethnic one, the "Kommersant" writes.
A fortnight ago, in the village of Kazatkom, a fight broke out between Kazakhs and Chechens, which outgrew into mass pogroms launched by local citizens against Chechens.
Militiamen managed to stop the first wave of pogroms. But several days later, the conflict flared up anew. A mass fight took place in the local club building, in the course of which several Kazakhs were wounded.
On March 19, a crowd of 500-600 Kazakhs gathered in the centre of Kazatkom. After the meeting, the crowd shouting "Chechens, go away from here!" again started smashing Chechens' houses. As a result of clashes and skirmishes, some fifteen persons on both sides were wounded, and three died. On March 20, pogroms went over to the neighbouring villages, where Chechens live.
