Two Sudanese attacked in Russia’s Voronezh

Jan 11, 2006 (VORONEZH) — Two Sudanese have been assaulted in the central Russian city of Voronezh, a police spokesman said Wednesday.

The incident took place late Monday, when the men 23 and 31 years old, were at a bus stop with two Russian women. The group became involved in an exchange of words with two young local men, which then erupted into a fight. No serious injuries were reported on either side.

Prosecutors will decide Wednesday whether to charge the Russian men.

The incident is the latest of its kind to cast a shadow over the city, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Moscow, which has traditionally been a popular destination for undergraduates to come to study in Russia. European universities send their students for their year abroad or shorter courses, whereas students from Africa and South America often come for longer to train for good degrees at relatively low prices.

However, a string of attacks on foreigners, often attributed to racial motives, have made headlines recently.

On October 9, an 18-year-old architecture student from Peru died after he and his three companions were attacked by about 15 Russian youths. The student was stabbed to death and two of his friends – a fellow Peruvian and a Spaniard – were severely injured.

On October 17, Voronezh State University Albanian student Zami Altin told police that he had been beaten up, and had his mobile phone and ID papers stolen near his dormitory.

The Russian Education and Science Ministry said later it would review the list of colleges recommended to foreign students.

(RIA Novosti)