Young woman beaten at a police station in Korolyov, insulted and threatened with sexualized violence

A young woman was beaten at a police station in Korolyov, insulted and threatened with sexualized violence. The victim herself told Caution, News.

On the evening of July 24, 19-year-old Veronika was returning home from training and stopped by Pyaterochka for groceries. At the self-checkout, she was unable to scan a pack of cucumbers and asked a cashier for help. In response, the cashier demanded that Veronika open her bag, suspecting her of stealing alcohol. The young woman refused and suggested checking the security camera footage. The store manager ultimately called the police. Veronika, according to her, also called the emergency service 112 to report that she was being held in the store against her will, and texted her parents.

The police officers who arrived at the scene twisted her arms and put her in the car without showing any ID, the victim claims.

“In the car they started insulting me, calling me a whore and a stupid little girl,” Veronika added.

At the Bolshevsky police department, according to the young woman, her belongings were searched and no groceries were found. Then one of the police officers took her to the second floor. While they were going up the stairs, the man threw her against the walls and shoved her roughly onto the steps, Veronika claims. When the young woman fell, the officer pinned her down with his whole body, the victim added.

“During it, he was making filthy comments toward me. He said he could do anything he wanted to me, up to and including rape. Before going up, he forcefully hurled me from the stairs onto the second floor. I hit the wall with my back and my head,” Veronika said.

The police officer took a written statement from the young woman, which she did not sign, because it did not mention Veronika’s call to 112 or that the officers had refused to show their IDs.

“He was about to take my fingerprints. I wouldn’t let him. In response, he said that then he would break them,” the young woman added.

At that moment, her parents arrived at the station. Hearing their shouting, the police officer, according to Veronika, calmed down and allowed the young woman to write a complaint stating that she had been subjected to violence at the station.

An ambulance took the young woman from the police department. At the trauma center, Veronika was diagnosed with bruising of the soft tissues of the head, abrasions, and hematomas.

The family contacted the Investigative Committee. The agency’s press service told Caution, News that they had launched an inquiry. They did not provide any details, however.