Criminal case against gang for beating man in store sent to court

The investigation in Volzhsky has concluded, and the criminal case against three young men—23-year-old Matvei Presnyakov and 17-year-olds Stas and Nikita—has been sent to court. They are charged with hooliganism using weapons, intentional infliction of moderate bodily harm committed in connection with the victim performing a public duty, and actions by a group of persons using items as weapons. In addition, one of the accused, who already has a conviction for a violent crime, is also charged with threatening to commit murder and battery.

The incident that led to the case occurred in May 2025 at a Magnit chain store in Volzhsky. The three young men were behaving noisily and using profanity in the sales area. A 56-year-old customer reprimanded them, urging them to maintain order. In response, they attacked the man, knocked him down, and began brutally beating him, delivering numerous punches and kicks to the victim lying on the floor, who did not resist.

Store employees, witnessing the assault, barricaded themselves in a back room and called security and police. As a result of the beating, the man suffered serious harm to his health. A medical examination revealed he had a closed traumatic brain injury, a brain contusion and hematoma, and multiple fractures of the facial skeleton.

On 29 May 2025, the Volzhsky City Court ordered all three suspects to be remanded in custody as a preventive measure. The investigation uncovered other episodes of unlawful activity. For example, 17-year-old Stas had previously, at a bar, struck a woman after she refused to meet him, knocked her down, and kicked her several times. Two months later at the same establishment, he got into a conflict with another patron, pressed a knife to his stomach, and threatened violence.

The investigation into this criminal case was personally overseen by Alexander Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia. Investigative actions are now complete, the indictment has been approved, and the materials have been sent to court for trial on the merits. According to available information, the documentation has not yet been received by the judicial instance.