An investigation has been opened after a small dog was tossed out the window of a fourth-floor apartment in central St. Petersburg, local prosecutors said in a statement Monday.
Witnesses claim that that the Yorkshire Terrier was discarded from the apartment window on Friday night, striking a parked van before falling flat onto the asphalt, the statement said. The canine was still breathing but had broken its spine and fallen unconscious when witnesses tended to it after it hit the ground, prosecutors said.
The dog had to be euthanized due the severity of its injuries.
Witnesses at the scene at the time of the incident said they first heard shouting coming from a fourth-floor apartment before seeing the dog tumble from the window, the statement said.
Relatives of the person who allegedly committed the cruel act told the Russian News Service on Thursday that he was an alcoholic and had not meant to hurt his beloved pet.
Under Russian law, individuals convicted of animal cruelty can face a fine or up to one year in prison.
State Duma deputy Oleg Lebedev proposed in March that the punishment for animal cruelty be increased twofold. The federal legislative body returned the proposed bill to its author later that month because it did not comply with Duma regulations.
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.
