Ukrainian schoolgirl beaten up in Jelgava

  • 2014-09-25
  • From wire reports, JELGAVA

Animalist behavior among some elements of the local population in Jelgava against Ukrainian refugees has surfaced.

Latvian Television reported on Sept. 24 that a schoolgirl from a Ukrainian refugee family has been beaten up in Jelgava, reports LETA.

The family arrived in Latvia this summer, escaping the conflict in Ukraine, and currently has refugee status in the country.

The incident happened when the sixth grader was returning home from school in the city, where she was attacked by several older girls who, according to the girl's father, were 8th and 9th graders, and possibly from a minority school.

The father stated that during the attack, the older girls made fun of the fact that she was from ''some poor village in Ukraine,'' and that her accent was ''an incorrect one.''

The Ukrainian girl suffered head injuries during the attack, and several of her teeth were knocked out. According to the girl's mother, she is now afraid of leaving her home because of her Ukrainian accent.

Police are currently investigating the attack.