Local yeshiva student stabbed to death in St. Petersburg
Motive for murder unclear; Jewish community suspects neo-Nazi skinheads in killing.
By Amiram BarkatA 22-year-old Jewish man was stabbed to death on Saturday at the entrance to his apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The motive of the murder is still unclear however the local Jewish community believes that it may have been due to anti-Semitic sentiment.
If true, this would be the most severe case of anti-Semitic violence in St. Petersburg in the last few years.
Dmitri Mikolinski , a biology and yeshiva student, was murdered outside his parent's home while on his way to synagogue. His mother, who left the apartment a few minutes after him, found Mikolinski bleeding heavily after being stabbed in the neck.
Police are investigating whether a security camera installed in the building has footage of the murder.
Jews in the community told Haaretz that Mikolinski was a quiet and shy man and it is highly unlikely that he was involved with criminals.
According to the Jewish community, the manner in which Mikolinski was murdered - a stabbing in the neck - is characteristic of a group of skinheads in the city.
In the past few years, a number of foreign students and civil rights activists were murdered in St. Petersburg, apparently by neo-Nazi skinheads.
In most cases, the perpetrators were not apprehended or got off with light punishments.
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This is terrible news. It is frighteningly similar to the killing in Ukraine and discovery of the young man's body yesterday. If there was an "Anti-Jewish" meter that could rate certain nations at the moment it would be interesting and very cautionary to read. Russia and the Ukraine would seem to get a high rating at the moment. But Jewish communities in other nations should be extremely vigilant. Many people are assigning blame for their present plight to the Jews. This trend seems to be growing. There are some reports he may have been involved in some sort of criminal activity. More light should be shed on the situation. Even if he was the question is..."Would he have received the same treatment if he had not been Jewish ?"