Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the family of the 10-year-old Qobiljon Aliyev, who was tragically killed in a school-xenophobia-related attack in the Moscow region, during a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on December 22 in Saint Petersburg, as part of an informal CIS summit.
Putin emphasized that such acts of terrorism, particularly against children, are incomprehensible, according to the Kremlin website.
"The commission of terrorist acts against children is an especially heinous crime. There is no doubt that the investigation will be carried to the end, and those responsible, if there are multiple individuals involved, will be fully punished. I repeat once again, I was shocked by this crime," Putin stated.
He also asked Emomali Rahmon to convey his condolences and support to the family of the slain child. "Please convey my most sincere condolences to the family of the deceased boy," the Russian leader added.
Putin assured that the investigation would be thorough and those responsible would be held accountable.
In response, Emomali Rahmon stressed the need for an impartial investigation into Qobiljon Aliyev’s murder and called for all those responsible to be brought to strict criminal responsibility.
According to the Tajik president’s official website, the two leaders agreed to instruct the relevant authorities in both countries to strengthen cooperation in combating such violent acts and to take urgent measures in this regard.
The tragic incident occurred on December 16. A video of the attack, published by the Telegram channel Mash, shows the young assailant approaching a group of students with a knife and asking, "What’s your nationality?" The security guard attempts to intervene, but the attacker sprays pepper spray in his face and proceeds to stab him. The attacker then turns his knife on the children, fatally injuring the 10-year-old Qobiljon Aliyev.
Racism in Russia mainly appears in the form of negative attitudes towards non-ethnic Russian citizens, immigrants or tourists and negative actions against them by some Russians. Traditionally, Russian racism includes antisemitism and Tatarophobia, as well as hostility towards the various peoples of the Caucasus, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia and Africa.
Some sources say tens of thousands of people joined neo-Nazi groups inside Russia in the 2000s. Racism is reportedly a significant problem in Russia.
