The Dijon public prosecutor's office requested the indictment of four members of the Chechen community arrested after the violence last weekend in Dijon, announced Saturday the prosecutor of the Republic of Dijon Eric Mathais. These four suspects, three men of Russian nationality and a Frenchman of Russian origin, were part of a group of six arrested Thursday as part of the investigation into reprisals launched by members of the Chechen community seeking revenge the assault of a young person by, according to them, residents of the sensitive district of Grésilles.
Two of them, a 53-year-old Russian resident of Dole and a 41-year-old Frenchman living in Dijon, have already been indicted. One of them was imprisoned and the other was to be brought before the liberty and detention judge (JLD). They were indicted for association of criminals for the preparation of crimes punishable by 10 years in prison and participation in a group for the preparation of violence and degradations, the prosecutor said at a press conference.
Suspects Deny Committing Violence
The two other Russian suspects, a 23-year-old man living in Saint-Etienne and another 29-year-old resident in Troyes, must be charged with the same charges, as well as those of aggravated violence and degradations. The prosecution also requested their detention on remand.
"These people admit having been present for all or part of the events but they personally dispute having committed violence or degradations," added the prosecutor. "What we witnessed was unpredictable and unusual," also said Eric Mathais, saying he was "shocked and concerned at the clashes between communities against a background of discrimination and even racism".
Following the violence that occurred in the nights of Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June, the Dijon public prosecutor's office opened "an investigation into the flagrance of the leaders, in particular of attempted murder in an organized gang, deterioration in meetings, aggravated violence, association perpetrators and participation in an armed group, "said the prosecutor. These facts were followed on June 15 by a show of force of hooded men in the Grésilles district, posing as "we the Arabs" on videos relayed on social networks.
Protesters demand resignation of prefect
The latter appeared equipped with what appeared to be assault rifles or automatic pistols, attacking security cameras and torching vehicles. At the same time, many vehicles were also burned in the neighboring town of Chenôve. An investigation was also opened into these facts. Calm has returned since Tuesday in the Burgundian capital, where this unprecedented violence shocked many residents.
Saturday afternoon, shortly before the press conference of the prosecutor, a hundred people, including residents of Les Grésilles, defied a prefectural ban to demonstrate in Dijon to demand the resignation of the prefect, accused of laxity in the face of punitive expeditions carried out on last weekend by the Chechen community in this sensitive neighborhood.
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