Turkish Flags Became Cause for Clashes Between Armenians, Azeris in Russia

Around 5 pm on Apr. 24 in the Russian city of Tver, armed clashes between local Armenian and Azeri residents broke out.

According to various Russian media. more than 100 people from both sides were involved in the conflict. According to eyewitnesses, the parties used automatic weapons.

Tver’s Department of Internal Affairs, speaking to a Vesti.az correspondent, confirmed the clashes between Armenians and Azeris.

Seven people with injuries of varying severity as a result of the clashes are in hospital.

In investigating the incident, 23 people (both Armenians and Azeris) were taken to Tver’s Internal Affairs division. The issue of launching a criminal case is currently being discussed. To prevent further conflict, peripheral forces were immediately reinforced and a 30-person team of riot police was established.

According to the head of the Tver branch of the Union of Armenians of Russia Seyran Kochkanyan, on Apr. 24, local Armenians had gathered at the local Orthodox Apostolic church, which was followed by a march to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. After these ceremonies, Kochkanyan said, Azeri youth marched along the streets, waving Turkish flags. Armenian youth considered this gesture a personal insult, which then led to the clashes between the two communities.