Agence France-Presse
Marseille, June 16: Twenty Russians including a far-right agitator were thrown out of France Thursday as the city of Lens went into lockdown ahead of England’s next Euro 2016 match against Wales.
Meanwhile in a late evening developement, three Russian fans were handed jail sentences ranging from 12 to 24 months for taking part in violent activities here Saturday.
French police swooped on a group of 43 Russian fans in southern France Tuesday and Wednesday and carried out identity checks as part of the investigation into the football violence.
Alexei Yerunov, Nikolai Morozov and Sergei Gorbachev were among the 43 detained and later tried in a court here. Alexei was setenced to 24 months in prison follwed by Nikolai (18 months) and Sergei (12 months). All three however, claimed innocence during the hearing.
Far-right figure Alexander Shprygin, who heads a Russian football supporters’ association, is among the 20 fans from the detained group who will be expelled from France. “He is among the group,” an investigation source stated. “He will be expelled.”
The arrest of the Russians turned into a diplomatic row Wednesday when Moscow summoned France’s ambassador in protest. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov described the arrests as ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
Thousands of riot police were on high alert in Lens, the industrial northern city where up to 50,000 supporters for the England-Wales game. face British rivals Wales at 1300 GMT.
Brawling erupted Wednesday when thousands of fans from the Russia-Slovakia match in Lille joined English and Welsh supporters gathering in the city. Riot police staged several tear gas assaults and baton charges.
