A Russian politician has had his apartment torched in an alleged arson attack.
Sergei Shargunov, who represents the Russian Communist party in parliament, said that his home was set on fire on April 21.
Shargunov's father was in the apartment at the time of the attack, the politician wrote on Facebook Friday.
“The fire spread [to my home] from the balcony on the 7th floor,” Shargunov wrote. “Perhaps they broke the glass and threw something. My father was saved by a miracle.”
The politician noted that the attack had taken place soon after parliament had voted on a controversial scheme to demolish many of Moscow's five-story buildings.
Shargunov was one of just four deputies who voted against the plans.
He wrote that he had tried not to speak about the incident publicly "for fear of crying wolf," but said information had already leaked into the Russian media.
“All I will say is that I have I appealed to our law enforcement agencies and I hope for a conscientious investigation,” he wrote.
Shargunov was elected to the Russian parliament in the 2016 elections. He has worked as a journalist and a writer, having published 8 books.
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.
