Russia’s Children’s Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov on Monday publicly defended a businessman who killed three robbers, saying Russians have the right to use any possible mean to protect themselves and their relatives.
Four armed robbers broke into the home of an entrepreneur in the city of Bogoroditsk, Tula Region on Saturday night, attacking the businessman, his wife and five of his children.
The businessman grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed three of the attackers to death. One robber managed to escape. The businessman was later taken to a hospital.
“If someone comes to kill you, it does not matter how you will defend yourself – using a stick, knife, pistol or gun," Astakhov said. "I believe this case should be investigated to prove that a person has the right to defend himself and his family… by all possible means.”
Earlier, Tula Region Investigative Committee head Tatyana Sergeyeva said the businessman may have used excessive force in self-defense, stressing the deadly wounds he inflicted on the robbers.
Anatoly Kucherena, head of the Public Chamber commission reform of law-enforcement, said the businessman was forced to stab the criminals to save his family, and called for an internal investigation against Sergeyeva.
“In Russia, they always want to 'insure themselves' by means of such laws, this is a throwback to Bolshevism. Under the Soviet regime there were no such cases at all. It has long been time to halt this practice,” Astakhov said.
