Guy who beat handicapped person: it was impossible to tell he was disabled

We met with Christina as we haven't seen each other on the New Year. We were going to the city center to hang up with her and my brother. I don't use alcohol so it is rubbish what they wrote in the Internet that we were drunk. I didn't take any alcohol on the New Year, I don't drink at all.

The man came in at Kastrychnitskaya station. He stepped on my foot. I looked at him. I wasn't going to beat him. I took out the headphone and he told me: "Free the seat". No please, no nothing. He wasn't polite. I told him there was no seat for him. Then he turned to Christina: "free the seat". So I told her to sit still.

He seized me by the face, pulled my hat on my face and then took it off at all. He got hold of my face. Then I got up and hit him. I hit him after he got hold of my face and scratched it.

Euroradio: Did he draw blood of your face?

Yes, we walked out at the station, Christina went to a shop do buy wet wipes, and wiped the blood off my face.

Euroradio: How many times did you hit him?

Two.

Euroradio: Did he beat you in response?

Not exactly.

Euroradio: How long did it last?

They say that he was lying on the floor for several minutes and we were beating him - this is not true. It all lasted for some 15 seconds. He was accompanied by his mother, a man pulled me away from him, while my brother tried to pull that man away from me. They broke up the fight and that's it.

Euroradio: Why didn't you free the seat?

Well, he looked like a normal person, I would never tell he was handicapped. About 30-40 years old. He looked perfectly healthy. If he showed his certificate...

Euroradio: Why did you hit in the face?

I don't know... Maybe it was just a reaction in defence when I felt the pain... He started it. I would never beat an unknown person for no reason.

Euroradio: Did you ever fight?

What do you mean?

Euroradio: When it was the last time you fought?

Maybe, a couple of times at school.

Euroradio: Do you have a habit to give up your seat to someone in the transport?

Yes, if this is an elderly or a pregnant woman.

Euroradio: When it was the last time you gave up your seat?

I don't know, I don't memorize such things.

Euroradio: What happened in the police? What are you accused of?

Nothing - they passed the case to the public prosecutor. I will go to the police again soon.

Euroradio: Do you study anywhere?

3rd year in college.

Euroradio: How would you act in the same situation now?

Well, I don't know, but I wouldn’t beat him, for sure. I think I would rather free the seat. I wouldn't want to repeat all this.

Euroradio: But he was rude, wasn't he?

I would ask why I should free the seat to him.

Euroradio: What did the mother of the beaten man say? Did she say he was handicapped?

Yes, she told later that I should not touch him, that he was disabled.

Euroradio: After you hit him?

Yes. If he didn't start fighting, nothing would have happened. If his mother came over and told he was disabled and had difficulties to stand.

Euroradio: What did the other passengers do?

They stood there, turned their faces away. No one defended him, just one man pulled us apart. Others acted as if it had nothing to do with them.