Russian police to assist French colleagues at 2016 Euro

Russian policemen will be assisting their French colleagues in providing security before and during the 2016 Euro Cup, which kicks off next month in France, a spokesman for the Russian interior ministry has said.

"The Russian Interior Ministry has positively replied to the French Interior Ministry's proposal to take part in the international police operation on maintaining order before and during the 2016 Euro Cup," the spokesman said on Tuesday adding that a total of six specially trained policemen will be sent to France.

The spokesman said that the duration of the Russian policemen's deployment in France would depend on how the Russian national team would be progressing at the main European football tournament.

Before the start of the European biggest football event, held once every four years, the Russian team will play two friendly matches - against the Czech Republic on June 1 in Austria's Innsbruck, and against Croatia on June 5 in Monaco.

The 2016 UEFA Euro Cup will be held in France between June 10 and July 10 with matches to be played in 10 different locations, namely in Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse.

A total of 24 European national teams qualified for the Euro Cup final tournament in 2016.

The contesting teams were divided into six groups and Russia was placed into Group B, sharing it with the teams from England, Wales and Slovakia.

--IANS

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