Russian police in Moscow have released without charge a licensed gun owner who shot an armed attacker targeting parishioners and a paramedic outside a church.
An informed source told the Moscow News Agency that law enforcement officers verified the bystander held a valid firearms permit before allowing him to return home. Authorities confirmed that the man faces no criminal prosecution for using a non-lethal traumatic weapon against the aggressor.
Morning attack on Belorechenskaya Street
The violence broke out on the morning of September 1 on Belorechenskaya Street, located in the Maryino District of south-eastern Moscow. A mentally disturbed man armed with an axe launched an unprovoked attack against parishioners gathered near a local church and an arriving emergency medical team.
A paramedic sustained serious injuries during the assault before the armed eyewitness intervened. The bystander drew his personal firearm and shot the assailant on the street, successfully neutralizing the threat and stopping further violence against those present.
Assailant identified by police
Law enforcement officers subsequently established that the attacker suffered from a severe mental illness. Investigators later confirmed that the assailant was the brother of prominent Russian writer and theologian Oleg Zobern, who is known for his published prose and religious commentary.
In the Russian emergency healthcare system, medical crews dispatched to urgent calls frequently include feldshers. These healthcare professionals are trained mid-level medical practitioners who provide critical emergency care and first aid at incident scenes throughout Moscow and across Russia.
Legal clearance for self-defence
In Russia, non-lethal handguns are legally designated as traumatic weapons. These firearms are engineered to fire rubber bullets or tear gas cartridges for self-defence. Under Russian federal law, citizens must undergo background checks and obtain a valid government permit to purchase and carry such arms.
Following the shooting on Belorechenskaya Street, police officers transported the bystander to a local police department for questioning. After reviewing his valid weapon licence and conducting an official inquiry into the circumstances of the shooting, investigators determined he had acted lawfully against an aggressor and released him without charge.
