Support The Moscow Times!

Taxi Driver Goes on Moscow Rampage

A Moldovan taxi driver who rampaged through downtown Moscow on a Renault Megane, ramming a dozen cars and inciting a police car chase, told reporters that he was "flying on the wings of love."

Traffic cops attempted to stop the unidentified driver on Sunday after he ignored a "no entry" sign near Kievsky Station, but the man drove away, almost ramming a group of children boarding a bus, RIA-Novosti reported, citing a police spokesman.

A traffic patrol positioned its car in front of the children in time to save them, the spokesman added.

From there on, the incident developed into a Hollywood-style car chase, complete with driving through red lights and numerous crashes. In total, 17 cars were damaged, including four police vehicles.

Police eventually managed to stop the Renault by shooting its tires. The driver then stripped naked and jumped out of the vehicle, but was immediately apprehended and covered with a police coat.

The man said he was driving to his "beloved," but did not elaborate, Komsomolskaya Pravda reported. He is now facing up to 20 years in prison for hooliganism and attempted murder of a policeman.

Police could not say whether the man was drunk or mentally unstable. A bottle of "unidentified liquid" found in the taxi was sent for analysis.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

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 you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more