Location Soviet Union Status Ended | Methods Riots Death(s) 40-41 killed | |
Date 10 April 1951 (10 April 1951) – 18 June 1951 (18 June 1951)
(2 months, 1 week and 1 day) | ||
The anti-Chechen pogrom in Eastern Kazakhstan took place in spring and summer, 1951, in Eastern Kazakhstan (part of the Soviet Union at the time), upon ethnic tensions between mainly ethnic Russians and deported Chechens. A blood libel rumor, according to which the Chechens allegedly use "Christian blood in their rituals" may also have contributed to the escalation of events. The riots occurred in 3 cities - Leninogorsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Zyryanovsk.
The main riots took place on April 10, 1951, in the Chechen-city neighbourhood of Leninogorsk. The riots, led by groups of amnestied criminals upon the Chechen civilians led to the deaths of 40-41 people, mainly of Caucasian origins. Arrests were late made by Soviet authorities on initiators and 50 people from among the criminals were persecuted by courts, though no riot leaders were identified.