By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The Russian ambassador to Seoul said Tuesday that Russian police are questioning two suspects in an attack on a South Korean student in Moscow, Sunday, according to a foreign ministry official.

Vice Foreign Minister Shin Kak-soo summoned Ambassador Konstantin Vnukov and expressed concern that the attack and the death of another South Korean last month could strain relations between Seoul and Moscow.

The 29-year-old student was left critically wounded in the attack by two masked Russians.

The violence followed the death of a 22-year-old student in the Siberian city of Barnaul, capital of the Altai region.

He was beaten and stabbed to death in what was believed to be a racially motivated crime.

The ambassador said Russian police have been investigating three other suspects in the deadly case.

``The murder case in Altai and the attack in Moscow must not in any way damage or hinder Korea-Russia relations that will mark their 20th anniversary this year,’’ Vnukov was quoted as telling Shin.

Vnukov said the Russian government was doing its utmost to find and punish those responsible for the attacks, but noted the Russian police now believe the crimes did not specifically target South Korean citizens, according to the official.

The vice minister called for a swift investigation into the crimes and countermeasures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Shin said repeated crimes against South Koreans might cause people to feel insecure.

``We hope the Russian government will realize the seriousness of these incidents and take complete and swift measures to prevent a recurrence of such crimes,’’ he said.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr