Security guard under investigation after alleged assault at Moscow grocery store
A security guard at a Moscow grocery store is under investigation after an alleged sexual assault involving a woman who was attempting to leave the shop with three packs of butter without paying. The claim was reported by Rhine TV.
The incident is said to have occurred on July 5, 2023, at a store located on Touristskaya Street. According to the testimony of a 42-year-old woman, she tried to take three packs of butter from the front of the cash register without paying. The guard noticed the attempted theft, restrained her, and escorted her to a back room for a discussion. The woman asserts that the guard produced a baton and made an inappropriate proposition, offering to accept payment in kind. Terrified, the woman says she eventually felt compelled to agree to the man’s terms. [citation: Rhine TV]
At first, the woman hesitated to report the incident to the police. After several days, she chose to come forward, prompting an official investigation into the matter. Authorities are examining all circumstances and possible causes surrounding the event. The case has drawn attention to the handling of alleged crimes in retail settings and the experiences of victims in reporting such incidents.
Separately, a separate report indicates that an immigrant taxi driver faced allegations related to a rape case in Novosibirsk involving a pageant finalist. This other incident is noted as part of broader discussions about safety and crime involving service workers and transportation providers in different Russian cities.