Astonishing story of father who forced paedophile ‘best friend’ to dig his own grave and kill himself when he discovered he’d abused his little girl and was then sent to Russian prison… but FREED after public outcry

It was a surprising case of betrayal and livid retribution that resonated with horrified dad and mom the world over.

In distant woodlands in deepest Russia, an enraged Vyacheslav Matrosov stood face-to-face with the one-time good friend and babysitter he had caught abusing his six-year-old daughter.

Moments later, after a vicious knife-fight, 32-year-old Oleg Sviridov was useless – Matrosov having apparently succeeded in making the baby intercourse attacker dig his personal grave after which take his personal life.

The extraordinary story of how a father confronted the abuser of his baby immediately struck a chord with the general public – much more so when Matrosov was arrested on suspicion of homicide, which may have seen him face a prolonged spell in jail.

His arrest was accompanied by an outcry with villagers pitching collectively to fund his winding authorized battle and declaring: ‘Each father would have executed this.’

Ultimately, the 35-year-old was convicted of ‘inciting an individual to suicide or tried suicide by threats or abuse’ and served simply six months of an 18-month sentence.

‘Slava’ Matrosov and Oleg Sviridov had been good pals earlier than the lethal episode unfolded. Sviridov would typically babysit Matrosov’s kids and the pair had for a very long time been shut and trusting pals.

No person may have suspected what was actually occurring. ‘They left their kids with him on a regular basis,’ Sviridov’s mom would later remark. ‘When he baby-sat these women he got here again dwelling as regular, in an excellent temper.’

‘He should have been drunk. Most certainly he was drunk,’ she mentioned, making an attempt to know how her son may have turn into such a monster.

It was when the buddies had been consuming collectively that Matrosov uncovered the ugly reality. When Sviridov fell asleep, his good friend took his telephone to see what he had been , it was later claimed in court docket paperwork.

To his horror he found a video of his greatest good friend forcing his baby to carry out a intercourse act. The woman – who sources say was Sviridov’s goddaughter – was allegedly heard within the video pleading: ‘Oleg, that is sufficient, I can not take it any extra. I need to go dwelling’.

Police would later say that Sviridov’s telephone additionally contained sickening movies of the rapes of different women from the village, aged six and 11. The movies indicated that the suspect had been abusing kids for 5 years earlier than Matrosov found the footage on his telephone.

It was mentioned that one of many alleged victims was additionally the daughter of his former accomplice. ‘The lady had a daughter from her first marriage,’ a good friend later instructed Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper. ‘Now it has turned out he was abusing the kid.’

‘He was always seen with the women, the daughter of his accomplice and Vyacheslav’s older daughter, within the village. It by no means crossed anybody’s thoughts what he was doing with kids.’ 

Matrosov gave Sviridov an ultimatum to show himself in, it was claimed. When he failed to take action, Matrosov mentioned he went to the police and reported the assaults himself.

The police started a manhunt for the intercourse offender as he tried to flee, however Matrosov acquired to him first – ostensibly hoping to spook his previous pal into going to police and doing the correct factor.

Sviridov was final seen badly overwhelmed on the day he disappeared in September 2021, in keeping with a relative. Per week later, his physique was discovered within the makeshift grave close to Vintai village.

The main points of what occurred in these woods could by no means be totally revealed. However investigators concluded Sviridov was made to dig his personal grave earlier than the 2 had been swept up in a livid row.

Matrosov later instructed police he didn’t imply to kill his previous good friend, however says he ‘chanced on’ a knife through the argument. Sviridov lunged at Matrosov with the blade however caught himself within the course of, sustaining deadly wounds.

Forensic groups finally concluded that Sviridov took his personal life through the fracas.

Matrosov waited earlier than going to the police and handing within the telephone as proof. He instructed the police he had solely meant to scare his good friend and had given him the selection: hand your self in or take your personal life. 

Authorities discovered Sviridov’s corpse in an unmarked pit per week after Sviridov disappeared. They arrested Matrosov on suspicion of homicide, for which he confronted 15 years in Russian jail.

The suggestion at first sparked outcry amongst residents of native village, many pooling collectively to fund the aggrieved father’s authorized battle. 

‘Each father would have executed this [killed someone they saw abusing their child]. This shall be an instance to everybody,’ learn a petition calling for his acquittal on the time.

‘Subsequently, we demand understanding from the chief department, the Ministry of Inner Affairs and the Investigative Committee.’

In April 2022, Matrosov was lastly convicted of ‘inciting an individual to suicide or tried suicide by threats or abuse’ by Krasnoglinsky Court docket in Samara, and sentenced to 18 months in a strict Russian penal colony. He served simply six months of the sentence after being freed a 12 months early.

It was a fairly mild sentence in comparison with the six-year most penalty beneath the cost. Lawyer Vera Podkolzina mentioned on the time proving Sviridov’s guilt with the video proof was crucial to getting a lenient sentence for Matrosov.

‘It’s troublesome to say what punishment the daddy of the woman could face, however he has very highly effective mitigating circumstances,’ she mentioned. 

‘If the crime is confirmed by video details, then is the woman’s father fallacious?’ mentioned Anna Plekhanova, commenting on a petition.

‘He saved our children from potential paedophile abuse,’ mentioned one other supporter.

Matrosov at all times denied homicide and mentioned he was ‘happy’ that he wouldn’t face a cost of intentionally killing Sviridov. The court docket additionally eliminated the requirement for him to put on an digital tag as he awaited trial.

‘After all, we perceive that he may have obtained a far longer sentence. And 18 months shouldn’t be a lot time,’ mentioned Oksana Kazakova, a Matrosov household good friend and Sviridov’s ex-girlfriend, whose daughter was additionally allegedly abused.

‘We actually hope that he’ll get a presidential pardon on the finish of the 12 months. That might be an enormous blessing for all his family and friends.’

Nonetheless, the story triggered a wave of sympathy round Russia, making headlines around the globe.

Outstanding TV journalist and former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak instructed her followers on the time: ‘All dad and mom are standing up for the paedophile’s killer.’

Matrosov’s father up to date supporters with a message on a fundraiser.

‘We have now collected the cash, thanks all,’ he mentioned. ‘It was not pals or relations who helped, however strangers from the village.’

Some 2,500 folks signed a petition demanding that Matrosov be totally acquitted, with locals within the village of Pribrezhnaya even pitching in to pool cash for his authorized charges.

Matrosov was lastly reunited along with his household in October final 12 months after six months in jail. 

‘House,’ he mentioned in a submit shared on-line, sat subsequent to his spouse Natalya, then 35. ‘Love very a lot.’