Employees of a private security firm provided their own account of the incident described as a clash at a hotel associated with the Perm circus, a report from aif.ru noted. Their depiction emphasizes that no circus workers were harmed by the security personnel in the course of the events.
Andrey Shansherov, who serves as deputy director at Opora, noted that a member of the security watch pressed the alarm button as the situation escalated. He explained that the alarm was triggered in response to concerns voiced by residents living nearby, who complained about loud music and a disturbance coming from one of the rooms where guests were gathered for drinking.
According to the security representative, the guest party in question appeared tense even before the formal disturbance was acknowledged. He said that while the neighborhood complaints about noise were being investigated, the guests were reminded to remain calm. The same security officer recounted that a man who would later be conveyed by ambulance rose from a sofa, used profanity, and then struck him with an elbow to the chest, initiating the physical confrontation. The guests ultimately left their rooms, and the altercation intensified as witnesses watched a tense dispute unfold.
The security personnel described being overwhelmed as they tried to exit the area. They found themselves moving toward a basement corridor that led to a dead end, where they reported continued aggression. One individual reportedly drew an expandable baton and used it, while another kick connected with a victim’s head at the railing, adding to the sense of danger. The incident prompted the driver of the security team to deploy a spray canister, and other employees nearby were made aware of the escalation.
In a subsequent account, the security team member said that colleagues from other private security outfits had been summoned. One team member attempted to intervene with a performer named Igor Korchagin, who was seen moving toward the group. The confrontation allegedly culminated in shots aimed at Korchagin’s legs. The security observer described Korchagin as intoxicated at the time, sitting on the floor in slippers, and noted that as his companions attempted to assist him, he fell and struck his head on the tiles, leading to a loud snore that drew further attention.
Edgard Zapashny, who previously served as Director General of the Great Moscow Circus, commented on the seriousness of the injuries suffered by Korchagin, which resulted in a coma and a diagnosis of cerebral edema. Zapashny called on the Perm Territory governor, Dmitry Makhonin, to take part in the official inquiry to determine responsibility and to establish what occurred during the incident. His public statements, along with those of eyewitnesses, portrayed the scene as chaotic and involved a number of private security firms.
Accounts from security personnel and observers indicate that a cluster of private security companies may have contributed to what some described as a staged or uncontrolled confrontation. The description of pepper spray, batons, and traumatic pistols being used by multiple parties underscores the severity of the confrontation. The situation raised questions about command, coordination, and the appropriate use of force in a venue linked to a major cultural event, and it prompted officials to consider a formal investigation to ascertain how such a sequence of actions occurred and who bore responsibility for the injuries and the ensuing medical needs.