Mass fight between Central Asian migrants in St. Petersburg suburb ends in arrests (video)

On August 26, a large fight broke out between citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the settlement of Yanino-1 near St. Petersburg, Russia. The incident was reported by News Mail.

According to initial reports, the conflict began near a kindergarten construction site and quickly escalated into a mass brawl.

Footage of the incident, widely circulated on social media, shows a group of men first exchanging words, then insults, before the confrontation turned violent. Some participants began fighting with their fists, while others grabbed various objects and struck one another repeatedly.

Local residents alerted authorities, and law enforcement officers arrived promptly at the scene, detaining more than 30 participants and restoring order.

Investigators identified three Tajik nationals, aged 22–26, as the primary instigators. They now face charges under Article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code (Hooliganism), which carries a sentence of up to eight years in prison.

In addition, 23 individuals—14 Tajiks and 9 Uzbeks—were issued administrative penalties. Authorities confirmed that no serious injuries were reported, as no participants sought medical assistance after the brawl.

During document checks, police also discovered an Uzbek migrant illegally residing in Russia. He was placed in a detention center and is scheduled for deportation.

The exact cause of the altercation remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances.

This is one of several recent high-profile cases involving Central Asian migrants in Russia. In June, Russian Deputy Interior Minister Vitaly Yakovlev stated at an international migration conference in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, that Uzbek nationals were responsible for 35.5 percent of crimes committed by foreign citizens in Russia during the first quarter of the year.

Earlier this year, similar clashes were reported between Uzbek and North Korean workers at a construction site in Arsenyev, Primorsky Krai, as well as between Uzbek and Chinese workers in the Leninsky district of Krasnoyarsk.