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BY JAYNE HENSON

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A turbulent week for Russia as riots in major cities highlight the country’s ethnic tensions and general civil discord. Citizens took to the streets for everything from mourning the death of football fan to the changing of time zones.

The bloodiest of conflicts occurred just outside the Kremlin. This marked the second outburst of violence in than a week between nationalists and Muslims from the North Caucusus. Russia’s RIA Novosti explains.

“Clashes began after an unidentified assailant began beating five natives of the Caucasus. Violence continued after police arrived on the scene. Police were forced to use their own bodies to shield the victims. Bottles and flares were hurled at the police officers.”

But a political analyst for RT argues that ethnic tensions are par for the course in Russia. – this is just Russian football. Recent incidents say more about police inadequacies than a government spiralling out of control.

“Well I think its common knowledge that racism exists in Russia and that these nationalist groups have been pretty active in the ‘90s. Now I would say that they’re not so open because the government has arrested some of the leaders… But obviously this time it was, to my mind, a real mismanagement on the part of the police.”

But the Moscow News says the latest series of rallies turned riots do say something about impotent government – at least enough to warrant a response from the Russian president.

“And the shocking scenes of mass violence beneath the walls of the Kremlin at the weekend have left many fearing that the authorities’ apparently iron grip on Russia is rusting fast. President Dmitry Medvedev rushed to his twitter account to reassure the nation that everything was under control.”

The President is already in the hot seat with the release of Wikileaks documents detailing cables to Washington - accusing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of running a “mafia state.” SkyNews

“The Government of Russia’s strategy is to use organized crime groups to do whatever the government of Russia cannot acceptably do as a government.’ The U.S. officials quoted the Spaniard as saying that he ‘Considers Belarus, Chechnya, and Russia to be virtual ‘mafia states’…”

Russia will hold Duma elections next year and presidential elections in 2012. The vote could signal a referendum on Vladimir Putin’s reign of power.

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