Well-known activist of Sami national movement was found murdered in Russia

Well-known activist of Sami national movement was found murdered in Russia

Frightful tragedy happened in Sami village Lovozero (Murmansk oblast’, Russia), as reported by NRK Sápmi, national public broadcaster of Norway.

On Sunday morning, November 29, two people perished as a result of fire in a garage. One of them was Evgenii Iushkov, well-known translator, who knew many languages. For many years he worked in Sami Union (Sáof merađđi). Bodies of Evgenii and his comrade were found in Iushkov’s garage, which burned down almost completely. Police does not believe that is was an accident and suspects that it’s rather intentional murder. Now the case is under police investigation. Evgenii lived in Kárášjohka municipality and studied Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Kautokeino.

According to information of Free Idel-Ural, Evgenii Iushkov and his friend were in Evgenii’s garage. Unknown persons wanted to accomplish an act of theft in a nearby garage. Evgenii or his friend heard suspicious noises, went out to investigate and was shot down. Another partner, hearing gunshots, went out from the garage and also was shot. Criminal(s) transferred both bodies into garage and set it on fire. Two bullets were discovered by police in each victim’s body.

Evgenii Iushkov (45) is Sami from Lovozero, where he was born, grew up, studied, where he created his family. Mister Iushkov was a wonderful man, he was a brilliant example of real intellectual – clever, soft, non-confrontational, very pleasant to communicate with. He was known as a top-level translator (oral, written, synchronous translation) in Norwegian, English, Sami, Russian languages. Such specialists are very rare nowadays. Evgenii participated in many international and national conferences, seminars, meetings, events of native peoples. It was a co-ordinator in many initiatives and worked with many questions related to Sami people in Russia. He wasn’t very well-known to general public, but without him and his communication capabilities Sami national movement would be paralyzed. Iushkov was a very commited and reliable man. His death is an enormous loss and trouble for all Sami people in Russia. Those who ordered Evgenii’s murder will be punished!

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