In Chita, investigators from the Investigative Committee accused a local resident of car theft and kidnapping, according to a report on the website of the Investigative Directorate of the Trans-Baikal Territory of the Russian Federation.
The incident occurred on March 20 on the road between the village Eremino and the Berezka microdistrict in Chita. The authorities described a tense encounter that escalated after a dispute in a taxi while the driver was intoxicated, leading to a violent attack.
The statement from the Investigative Committee notes that the defendant, born in 1993, struck the taxi driver, a man born in 1957, multiple times with his fists and elbow, resulting in a severe traumatic brain injury. The assault left the driver with serious injuries and required hospitalization.
Subsequently, the attacker placed the injured driver in the trunk of his own car. The driver managed to drive for several hours, and later, in the evening, he was dumped on the shoulder of a Moscow highway by the assailant, where a passerby discovered him in an unconscious state.
The suspect was detained and faced charges connected to the battery, the grave injuries, and the alleged kidnapping in connection with the incident.
The report also mentions a prior incident involving two taxi drivers linked to terrorist activities at Crocus Expo, which is noted in the context of broader concerns about threats to taxi services and public safety.
Authorities stated that the injured driver was transported to a medical facility in serious condition and that the investigation continues to determine the full set of circumstances surrounding the case, including the motive and potential additional charges related to the criminal episode.