In a tragic incident in Yekaterinburg, a man was sentenced to eight years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Gabonese student François Ndjelassili last year. The court’s decision came after state prosecutors requested an 11-year sentence for Daniil Fomin, who claimed self-defense during the trial.
Ndjelassili, a student of economics at Ural Federal University, was attacked by Fomin and a friend after a dispute at a Burger King. Eyewitnesses reported that racial slurs were used before the fatal stabbing.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that Fomin had ties to a white supremacist group, sparking outrage. Additionally, two traffic police officers faced backlash for their inaction during the incident, leading to their dismissal.
Following Ndjelassili’s death, African students in Yekaterinburg expressed fear and concern over the prevalent racism and violence in Russia. The tragic incident shed light on the challenges faced by people of color in the country.