YONHAP NEWS

Another Korean student attacked in Russia

MOSCOW, March 8 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean student remains in critical condition after being attacked by a masked assailant in Moscow, the South Korean embassy here said Monday, the latest in what appears to be a series of hate crimes against people of "non-Slavic" appearance in Russia.

   About three weeks ago, another South Korean student was stabbed to death in the Siberian city of Barnaul, capital of the Altai region, in an attack by a group of Russian youths.

   In the most recent case, the 29-year-old South Korean, identified only by his surname Shim, was attacked near a shopping mall in Moscow at 5 p.m. on Sunday only moments after he started heading home after parting with friends and acquaintances, according to embassy officials.

   The suspect, who wore a white face mask, took only one stab at Shim's neck before fleeing the scene, but excessive bleeding from the wound has left the Korean student in a critical condition, they said.

   Shim came to Russia six years ago to attend a cinema college in Moscow.

   The local police believe the attack might have been racially motivated as it bore similarity to crimes carried out by Russian skinheads in the area, according to the embassy officials. Another foreign resident here was killed last week by local youths and there has been a steady rise in the number of crimes against foreigners.

   "We are advising Korean residents here to take precautions as there has been an increase in the number of crimes against foreigners," an embassy official said.

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