The Wednesday incident involved two men, one who gestured in sign language while the other picked Manning's pocket.
Several weeks ago, a Dutch diplomat was robbed at gunpoint at the same location.
Ellen O'Mahoney, retail manager of the Irish Store, said she has not heard of other criminal incidents near the establishment and stressed the business's commitment to security 1
"We have company security people inside as well as militia men posted outside of the store 24 hours a day", she said.
"Some of our regular customers ask them to help them get cabs, and we are certainly happy to offer that service to any of our customers. We all know that we have to be very careful these days".
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.