A Russian-Israeli man accused of stabbing Ekho Moskvy radio station deputy editor Tatyana Felgenhauer was ruled unfit to stand trial and ordered to receive treatment in a psychiatric hospital.
Boris Grits broke into the Ekho Moskvy office in Moscow and stabbed Felgenhauer in the neck in October 2017 before being wrestled to the ground. He was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and claimed during an interrogation that Felgenhauer was "sexually harassing" him by "using telepathic means of contact."
Moscow’s Presnensky district court judge Yelena Abramova found Grits to be unfit to stand trial and ordered compulsory treatment in a psychiatric facility, the radio station reported Friday.
“It’s good that this man will be isolated,” Felgenhauer said on air after the news broke. “We have been pressing [to make sure] this man will not to harm anyone else.”
“This is a story that could have happened to anyone at any moment,” the journalist said, dismissing allegations that the attack may have been motivated by her profession.
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.
