Anti-vape activists beaten in Moscow region mall raid

Activists from the «Healthy Fatherland» movement have stated that they were beaten by employees and workers of a shopping center in Odintsovo. The day before, the activists had been conducting an «anti-vape» raid there. The activists descended on a local tobacco shop to inspect the goods. According to their information, the goods lacked markings and were of unclear origin.

«There is no taste, no brand,» an activist said during the inspection.

«Healthy Fatherland» is an all-Russian public movement, created on March 22, 2021, on the initiative of two-time Olympic boxing champion Oleg Saitov.

«Anti-vape» is an educational project of the All-Russian Public Movement «Healthy Fatherland,» aimed at protecting the health of young people and countering the spread of nicotine-containing products.

During the raid, activists began questioning the sellers. Judging by video from the scene, a conflict broke out between them. After a while, security from the shopping center arrived at the store and surrounded the activists. After that, they were pushed outside and a fight began.

«On what grounds? As a consumer, can I be here?» says a girl who was present during the raid.

«Consumer—then consume,» one of those who attacked the activists answered her. After that, the man says they were asked to leave the shopping center.

«I see how you asked by hitting me in the face,» the girl said.

According to representatives of «Healthy Fatherland,» the activists were beaten by a crowd: they were kicked multiple times in the head and body.

«The wife of one of the activists has a split lip—adult men not only raised a hand against a woman but participated in beating her. As a result of the attack, equipment was damaged: lapel microphones and phones were broken, and numerous bruises and bodily injuries were recorded among team members,» the movement«s representatives stated.

Law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and took the activists to the police station to give statements. At the same time, the activists claim that none of them were detained.

«According to preliminary information, a quarrel occurred between citizens from the public movement and the administration of the shopping center, security was called and escorted the participants to the street. Subsequently, the verbal conflict escalated into a brawl, during which the female complainant, born in 1990, and a security guard, born in 1974, received bodily injuries,» the Moscow region Interior Ministry said.

Regarding the incident, the Moscow region police are conducting a procedural check to establish the participants and witnesses. In addition, a check is being carried out on retail outlets regarding the legality of tobacco product sales. The Moscow region prosecutor«s office has taken control of establishing all the circumstances.

A representative of the shopping center where the brawl occurred told MSK1.RU: «We do not give comments,» and then hung up.

Earlier we wrote that a model brutally beaten in Moscow needs an operation to install a plate on her skull.