St. Petersburg police opened a criminal case following a late night altercation involving musician Grigory Leps on December 3. The information comes from a report by TASS, with the victim represented by lawyer Evgeny Kheifets from St. Petersburg. The case is being pursued under the relevant provision for deliberate minor bodily harm with hooligan motives, as outlined in the Russian Criminal Code. This was confirmed by the lawyer handling the victim’s side.
According to Kheifets, law enforcement initially identified unidentified individuals as suspects in the incident. The victim later alleged that Leps himself was the one who struck him, leading to the injuries observed. The claim reframes the sequence of events and places the focus directly on the singer in question.
The lawyer described the timeline as follows: on the evening of December 2, the victim was playing backgammon in a bar located on Moskovsky Prospekt, a venue where Leps is said to have also appeared. It is reported that the artist had possibly performed at the Ice Palace earlier in the evening. The interaction reportedly escalated over a proposed high-stakes game, with a $10,000 offer reportedly made by Leps to the victim, which was refused. According to the victim, after the offer was rejected, the singer allegedly punched him in the face, resulting in a broken nose. Security personnel connected to Leps then allegedly assisted in delivering further blows on the street in the ensuing confrontation.
Footage of the incident circulated on social media, drawing public attention. The victim’s legal representative has indicated that the client intends to pursue a resolution through court proceedings, contingent on the behavior of all parties involved in the matter. Reports note that the case has already prompted a public discourse about the sequence of events and the responsibilities of those present at the scene, including security personnel and the artist himself. The parties are expected to present their accounts as the investigation continues and charges, if any, are clarified by the authorities. The ongoing judicial process will determine the liability and ensure due process for the individuals involved, including any potential witnesses and official statements that may shape the final decision. The information is being tracked by multiple news agencies, with updates continuing to emerge as new details become available to the public and the legal teams. Additional developments will be communicated through official channels as they arise, with the goal of establishing a clear, factual record of what occurred that night in St. Petersburg.