Racist rioters escape jail

Twelve people involved in riots in the northern Russian city of Kondopoga in September 2006 have been given three-year suspended sentences.

The violence was sparked by a restaurant brawl in September 2006 between locals and people from the North Caucasus, which left two people dead and nine injured.

The restaurant, a street market and several shops owned by people of Chechen and Azerbaijani origin were destroyed.

After the riots, there were street rallies demanding the expulsion of immigrants.

The court found the twelve Russians guilty of damaging private and municipal property.

The investigation into the two killings during the riots is still not over.