Man Violently Attacks Innocent Iranian Toddler in Moscow Airport

On June 24, in the Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport, a Belarusian tourist in transit was caught on surveillance video violently attacking a toddler.

The 31-year-old Vladimir Vitkov can be seen standing near an 18-month-old on the video footage, acting casually as he shuffled towards the toddler, surveying the area for witnesses. Suddenly, he picked the child up, identified as Yazdan, flipping him around and slamming the child headfirst onto the floor of the Moscow airport.

Vitkov immediately stepped away, put his sunglasses over his eyes, and threw his hands in the air and pointed to the child as others came to the boy’s aid. His mother was just steps away, retrieving luggage after the flight. Some say that his posture seemed intimidating as he stood in between the boy and those who came to help. When the toddler was picked up and carried away, Vitkov can be seen scooting his bottom across the floor where the boy was.

He was apprehended after a failed attempt to flee. According to Russian officials, Vitkov arrived on a flight from Cairo, Egypt, and had traces of drugs like cannabis and narcotics in his system. Reportedly, Vitkov confessed to attempted murder of the toddler, and Russian authorities have launched an investigation. Apparently, he was behaving erratically during questioning. He may be charged with attempted murder of a minor with malicious intent.

The 18-month-old Iranian toddler was attacked, unprovoked, while he stood in the airport after just having arrived with his pregnant mother. They had just fled Iran due to the rising escalations and Israeli bombings, and immediately upon arrival in Russia they were struck with another tragedy. Yazdan, an innocent child, is now in a coma with life-threatening injuries like a fractured skull and spinal injuries.

The Children’s Rights Commissioner in Moscow, Ksenia Mishonova, has called the attack an “unjustifiable crime,” calling Vitkov “inhuman,” adding that people like him have no place in society.