Criminals Blamed For Anti-Chechen Unrest In Russia

Aftermath of the riots in Kondopoga (ITAR-TASS)

September 5, 2006 -- Investigators are blaming a series of attacks targeting Chechen-owned businesses in a northwestern Russian town on criminals.

The two-day unrest in Kondopoga, in the Karelia region, followed the deaths of two people in a fight between ethnic Russians and people from the Caucasus at a Chechen restaurant on August 30.

More than 100 people were detained before the situation was brought under control on September 4.

(Interfax)