A drunken reveler tried to set fire to a nightclub in the Chuvashia republic over the weekend after being refused entry by security guards, police said Monday.
"The man didn't pass face control, security didn't even let the drunken man into the building," Chuvashia police said in a statement on their official website, without naming the suspect. "So he decided to have fun in another way."
The Novocheboksarsk resident ran into the foyer of the nightclub and sprayed a five-liter canister of petrol over the floor of the premises while holding out a cigarette lighter, the statement said.
The 27-year-old man was then knocked from his feet before being detained by police. At the time, there were almost 600 people in the nightclub, police said, adding that the man admitted his guilt.
The reveler, who said he "simply wanted to scare the security guards and those visiting the nightclub," faces up to five years in prison on charges of attempting to deliberately damage property.
Related articles:
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.