For the first time Armenians became victims of a savage assault in Novosibirsk. Several men were taken to hospital. One of them died from injuries later.

"The assailants just asked: "Armenians?" and started beating everyone up. Then took all the money and valuables and left," one of the victims recounts, Yerkramas newspaper reports.

According to the Novosibirsk Armenian Community representative, such crimes were never committed before.

The perpetrators were charged with criminal assault, yet after the death of one of the victims the charge will be altered and passed on to the investigation committee. Law enforcers say that it is too early yet to attribute national motives to the crime.