Seorang gubernur di salah satu provinsi di Rusia utara menyalahkan tindak kekerasan rasialisme di wilayahnya baru-baru ini pada pendatang dari Kaukasus. Kerusuhan itu terjadi menyusul terbunuhnya dua pria setempat di sebuah restoran. Berikut laporan wartawan BBC James Rodgers:

Dengar ceritanya

Both the authorities and human rights groups have warned that the racial violence in northern Russia could spread. In an interview with the 'Isvestia' newspaper, the local governor has blamed the unrest on migrants. Sergei Katanandov describes the behaviour of some young people from the Caucasus as totally inexcusable.

His remarks are likely to be welcomed by those in the town of Kondopoga who want all Caucasians expelled. Last week, two local men were killed in a brawl. At the weekend hundreds of youths - who blamed migrants for the deaths - went on the rampage attacking businesses belonging to traders from the Caucasus.

There are signs that the tension is spreading to other parts of the region. On Tuesday night, supporters of far-right movements held a rally in the nearby town of Petrozavodsk. White supremacist groups in Russia have openly encouraged attacks on non-Slavs in recent years. There have been countless beatings, and several deaths - but the numbers involved in the latest unrest appear unprecedented in the country in modern times.

James Rodgers, BBC News, Moscow

Dengar kata-katanya

migrants
Warga yang berpindah dari satu tempat ke tempat lain, pendatang

unrest
kerusuhan, keributan, perkelahian

spread
melanda,

totally inexcusable
sehingga tidak bisa dimaafkan

expelled
dipaksa pergi

a brawl
baku hantam atau perkelahian di tempat umum

went on the rampage
memperlihatkan perilaku yang keras, memulai perkelahian

held a rally
mengadakan pertemuan umum

supremacist
mendukung pendapat bahwa status seseorang di atas orang lain

unprecedented
belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya