Apr 2 2006 9:49AM
No ethnic enmity seen behind attack on Kabardino-Balkaria minister – prosecutors
MOSCOW/NALCHIK. Aril 2 (Interfax) – Moscow prosecutors have given their go-ahead to a criminal investigation into an attack on Kabardino- Balkaria Culture Minister Zaur Tutov under charges of inflicting body injuries.
“Nothing suggests thus far that the attack was motivated by ethnic enmity, but all theories will be checked,” an official with Moscow’s Eastern District Prosecutor’s Office told Interfax.
Tutov was beaten up by unidentified attackers following an impulsive argument. He suffered a fracture of the jaw and facial injuries, and was taken to a hospital late on Saturday.
Earlier reports said that Tutov, who is also a well known singer, was beaten up by unidentified young assailants when he was collecting his daughter from a dance studio.
A source in law enforcement told Interfax that the assailants allegedly shouted nationalist insults.
Spokesperson for Kabardino-Balkaria’s presidential press service Dzhamilya Khagarova told Interfax that, “young assailants, shouting: ‘Russia – for Russians!’ severely beat up Tutov, a popular singer of Russian lyrical songs. The singer suffered a fracture of the jaw and concussion of the brain,” Khagarova said. sd
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11490092
