A court in Belgorod has ordered an intoxicated woman to pay damages to a guest she punched in the face during a fight over food at a wedding in 2025, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
The victim filed a civil lawsuit in Belgorod Oblast following the incident at a local recreation centre. According to court records, guests became involved in a dispute over a portion of food before the drunk woman struck the man in the jaw with her fist and grabbed his arms.
Medical assessments recorded a bruise on the man's jaw and abrasions across his arms. In court filings, the victim stated that he suffered humiliation in front of his wife and fellow wedding guests, adding that the altercation ruined the celebration and forced him to attend multiple police and court hearings.
Disturbance at the reception
Following the scuffle, law enforcement officers compiled an administrative protocol for battery against the woman, resulting in an initial 5,000 ruble fine. During the civil court proceedings, she admitted guilt and attributed her behavior to alcohol intoxication and an emotional breakdown, though she did not offer an apology to the victim.
Belgorod Oblast is an administrative region in western Russia bordering Ukraine, with the city of Belgorod serving as its regional center. Under Article 6.1.1 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses, minor assault that does not result in serious bodily injury is treated as an administrative violation rather than a criminal offense, allowing victims to seek separate civil damages for moral harm in local courts.
Court ruling and financial penalties
The Belgorod court ruled entirely in favor of the victim, ordering the woman to pay 7,000 rubles in compensation for moral harm. In addition, the judge ordered her to reimburse the man 10,000 rubles for legal representation expenses and 14,000 rubles to cover additional court costs incurred during the legal dispute.
