MOSCOW, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - A conflict involving migrants similar to the clash that occurred in Northwest Russia in early September may happen in the Far East as well, the presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District said Thursday.
Two Russians were killed in a restaurant brawl with Chechen migrants in the Karelian town of Kondopoga in early September, sparking racial mob violence in the community and a wave of anti-migration protests elsewhere in the country.
"The situation in the Far East is tense, and we can see something like [the conflict in] Kondopoga, happening," Kamil Iskhakov said.
A total of 109 people were detained in Kondopoga on suspicion of being involved in mass disturbances in the city of 35,000, and 25 were arrested.
Iskhakov said the Far East faces a problem with illegal migration, but that law enforcement agencies have so far managed to prevent a serious conflict.
But the Far East, which is rich in mineral resources, needs an inflow of migrants, mainly from China, as the demographic situation in the region is complicated, he said, adding that the population of Far East has fallen by 20% in the past 15 years.
"Organizing a major inflow of Russians there is difficult," he said.
