CSKA basketball star Alexei Shved was attacked on the evening of May 1 near a capital city restaurant. The injury to his head led to hospital treatment, and doctors continued care as information spread about the incident. Several attackers were involved, and some were quickly detained by police; this update emerged on the morning of May 3, provided by a representative of Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Irina Volk.
“Moscow police officers moved quickly to arrest suspects for the intent to cause grievous bodily harm to a leading CSKA player. Three men were observed in a car near a shopping center on Pyatnitskoye Highway and were taken to a police station for investigation,” Volk noted.
The case is being handled by an inspector from the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Presnensky district in Moscow, under Article 111 of the Russian Criminal Code. A preliminary inquiry is underway, Volk added.
According to REN TV, detained individuals include 18-year-old Ramzin Amiraslanov, 20-year-old Knyaz Amiraslanov, and Gleb Pisarev, connected to the assault on Shved.
On May 4, Telegram channel Shot reported that three individuals had been detained while authorities searched for a primary suspect in the case.
Investigators said a person named Yusuf, who left the scene in a car after the crime, was involved in the act. He allegedly struck Shved with the heaviest blows to cause the skull injury.
By May 4 it was disclosed that the criminal case, initially tied to a minor among the defendants, was moved from the police to the Investigative Committee. The capital’s prosecutor’s office stated that one defendant’s minor status and the seriousness of the charges necessitated the transfer for further handling under appropriate jurisdictional rules.
Officials described the transfer as a procedural move to ensure the case is examined under the correct authority, with the regional Investigative Committee taking over for continued investigation.
Possible reasons behind the attack
Initial information offered little detail on motives. On May 2, the Telegram channel Baza proposed a first version: Shved was attacked by individuals who had debts from bets. CSKA had just lost in a decisive seventh game of the VTB United League semi-finals to Lokomotiv Kuban in overtime, ending a 15-year wait for a final appearance. Eyewitnesses suggested the assailants directed insults at Shved because they blamed him for the loss.
Baza later reported that after the incident one attacker contacted Shved and spoke of trying to resolve the matter directly.
Following the detentions, another theory emerged. One detainee’s testimony claimed that conflict began with Anastasia Ziaditdinova, who accompanied Shved that evening and allegedly faced verbal abuse rooted in national identity. She allegedly consumed alcohol and was accused of insulting others based on nationality.
Interviews with Shved’s wife and the involved parties described tense moments that preceded the confrontation. A verbal exchange escalated into physical contact, with witnesses recounting that Shved attempted to intervene and was then struck from behind by an assailant who stepped from a vehicle.
Shved’s manager publicly dismissed assertions that the altercation stemmed from disagreements related to the player’s wife, saying the claims were false and expressing confidence that police would uncover the truth with video evidence available.
In commentary to Sport-Express, Ziaditdinova maintained that the conflict did not involve insults based on nationality and emphasized that the dispute initially revolved around money lost in bets. She described a larger group presence as they exited the restaurant and recounted being targeted by individuals who knew who she was. She noted comments directed at Shved and stressed that personal misgivings about gambling losses contributed to the incident.
Shved’s partner later explained the tense moment sparked by a larger crowd recognizing her and a confrontation that followed, including alleged remarks about national identity from others in the group. She also referenced the social dynamics surrounding the event and the factors that led to the escalation.
Current status of the player
As the situation evolved, Ziaditdinova described Shved’s condition and indicated that a follow-up CT scan would be needed in roughly 10 to 14 days. The player reportedly experiences retrograde amnesia related to the incident, complicating recollection of events that evening.
Medical updates indicated a serious but carefully monitored condition, including a cervical stabilization device and residual intracranial concerns. The medical team stated that no immediate surgical intervention was required at that time, though the situation necessitated close observation.
On May 4, CSKA’s president Andrey Vatutin confirmed that Shved was improving and did not require surgery. He noted the player was resting in hospital and that ongoing treatment would continue without any specified activity or stress, with daily communication maintained with the player.
Experts interviewed about the injury highlighted potential long-term implications for Shved’s career. A sports physician warned that rehabilitation could be lengthy and that there was a possibility Shved might not return to professional play. The prognosis underscored the importance of coordinated movement, mental readiness, and the body’s ability to recover neural function. The consensus acknowledged that recovery could span many months and would depend on how well the brain and motor systems regain coordination and resilience.