Skinhead group leader arrested in Moscow

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian law enforcers have detained Maxim Martsinkevich known by nickname Tesak (hatchet) on accusation of inciting national hatred. Moscow prosecutor office representative Svetlana Petrenko said Martsinkevich is charged under article 282 (incitement of hostility or hatred and humiliation of human dignity) of the RF Penal Code.



According to some sources, Martsinkevich is the leader of an ultranational group of skinheads, Format-18. He has given several interviews to Russian journalists as the leader of the group.



The Moscow bureau in human rights specializing in struggle against fascism and xenophobia, during the recent two years number of skinheads increased with 20 thousand, totaling 70 thousand.



Bureau head Alexander Brod says the Russian authorities has recently taken more effective measures against ultranationalists. However their actions are not well systematized yet, the BBC Russian service reports.