Indictment filed after pogrom at St. Petersburg car dealership over non-working horn
The prosecutor’s office for the Vyborg district in St. Petersburg has approved the indictment against a 51-year-old man who caused a violent disturbance at a car dealership after the horn in a newly bought vehicle failed to function. The development was announced on the city prosecutor’s office website and reflects the severity of the incident and the steps taken by authorities.
The event took place in April 2022. After purchasing a used car, the suspect allegedly caused a disturbance and spilled champagne on the premises before departing from the dealership. The situation escalated quickly as tensions rose over the vehicle’s functionality.
According to the case details, the defendant demanded that the store manager honk the horn from the car he had bought, but the horn was found to be non-operational. Enraged by this issue, the individual allegedly began kicking computer equipment on the desks used by sales staff and directed coarse language at employees. The incident involved aggressive conduct that disrupted the dealership’s operations and created a hazardous environment for staff and customers.
Documents state that the man subsequently fired a gas-based weapon toward the manager’s face, resulting in chemical burns to the victim. In response, dealership personnel restrained the attacker with ropes and kept him under control until law enforcement arrived at the scene. The offender later expressed remorse for his actions and took steps to remedy the damage caused during the altercation.
The criminal proceedings have been initiated under charges of hooliganism and damage to another’s property. The case has been referred to regional court for adjudication, with prosecutors pursuing accountability for the violence and property harm that occurred during the episode.
In a separate note, the report mentions a separate incident in Moscow where two men engaged in a physical confrontation, exchanging blows with axes and baseball bats. These details illustrate a broader pattern of conflict escalation that can occur in crowded urban settings, where simple disputes can spiral into serious criminal acts. The authorities and judicial system continue to address these cases through investigations and prosecutions aimed at maintaining public safety and rule of law, while also considering any remorse or corrective actions taken by those involved.