In Kapotnya, Moscow, Nationalists Raid the Homes of Migrant Workers

On September 27, activists from the group “Shield of Moscow” [1] raided the places of residence of many migrant workers in Kapotnya, a district in south-eastern Moscow.

Dozens of aggressive young people, armed with bludgeons, entered the housing complex where migrant workers were living and demanded to see the residents’ documents. Those whose documents were not in order were thrown out to the street. If the residents did not open their doors willingly, the aggressors kicked their doors in. It is noted that the aggressors also included many minors.

On one floor the inspectors were met with armed resistance from the residents, including both guns and knives. At minimum, it is known that at least one young man and one woman received gunshot wounds from the resulting violence (it is yet unknown whether the guns used were lethal or in the category of self-defense weaponry). Smoke was also seen coming out from one of the entrances (the exact cause, whether it was a smoke bomb or a fire, is still unknown).

The police and the fire department were called to the scene, though they initially did not dare to enter the complex. When the shooting and the smoke began the police moved from the entrance they had tried to enter. They were not able to immediately help the woman who had been shot in the head. When she began to lose consciousness, however, a fireman lead an ambulance team past gunfire to get to her.

In the end, police detained no less than 200 persons, including migrant workers and several attackers. On October 1 three people were arrested, including the 26-year old leader of “Shield of Moscow”, Alexei Hudyakov, the 21-year old head of the “Drug-Stop” project, Alexander Voznesensky, and 17-year old “Shield of Moscow” activist, Hayet Sharifov. They will be held under arrest until November 28. Another person involved in the attack on the migrant workers, Andrei Ponomarev, was released from detention by the decision of the investigation.

[1] “Shield of Moscow” is an ultra-nationalist group in Moscow, Russia, that is dedicated to finding and deporting illegal immigrants.