A father took justice into his own hands when he forced the man who sexually abused his six-year-old daughter to dig his own grave in the woods before persuading him to end his own life.
Vyacheslav Matrosov, 35, had discovered video footage of his young daughter being coerced into sexual acts by Oleg Sviridov, 32, and confronted him. In a chilling audio clip, the child’s desperate plea can be heard: “Oleg, that’s enough, I can’t take it anymore. I want to go home.”
Initially, Matrosov, from Russia, faced murder charges, but further investigation revealed that Sviridov’s injuries were self-inflicted. In 2022, Matrosov was sentenced to 18 months in prison, serving 12 months before being released.
Public sentiment in Russia rallied behind Matrosov when it came to light that he had made his daughter’s abuser dig his own grave in the forest. Upon his release from prison, Matrosov shared a photo on social media with the caption: “Home. Love very much.”
The Krasnoglinsky Court in Samara found Matrosov guilty of “encouraging” Sviridov to commit suicide, resulting in an 18-month sentence in a strict regime prison colony. Had Matrosov been convicted of murder, the former rocket engine plant worker could have faced up to 15 years in prison, reports the Mirror US.
The local community in the Samara region rallied behind Matrosov after he was linked to the death of convicted paedophile Sviridov, drawing global attention to the case.
Residents in Pribrezhnoye generously donated money to cover Matrosov’s initial legal expenses.
He took his friend to the woods and gave him a choice.
A petition collecting 2,500 signatures emerged, demanding Matrosov’s acquittal, with locals expressing gratitude for “saving our children by ridding us of a child sex attacker.”
Prominent television personality and former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak publicly stated: “All parents are standing up for the pedophile’s killer.”
