The head of the Council of Deputies of the Meshchansky municipal district in Moscow, Alexander Zakuskin, who sprayed pepper spray in the face of 68-year-old Chechen Salima Yusupkhadzhieva, will not be expelled from United Russia.
As the secretary of the regional branch of the United Russia in the capital, the vice speaker of the State Duma Pyotr Tolstoy, told Znak.com, Zakuskin will not be expelled from the party, since he apologized to Salima Yusupkhadzhieva. However, Zakuskin “most likely could be reprimanded,” Tolstoy specified.
The incident between United Russia member Zakuskin and Chechen Yusupkhadzhiyeva, who was illegally selling sausage at a mosque, occurred last week. According to the woman, the deputy scattered her boxes with his feet, threatened with deportation, and when she tried to show the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, he sprayed pepper spray in her face. The woman received a first-degree burn on the conjunctiva and cornea. Salima Yusupkhadzhiyeva later told reporters that this was not the first time Zakuskin had attacked her because of illegal trade.
Deputy of the State Duma from United Russia Adam Delimkhanov intervened in the conflict between United Russia and Chechens. “I don’t know what to call you, except as a freak. Do you think it will be left to you? <…> These are the United Russia people who spoil everything for us, ”Delimkhanov said, calling Zakuskin by phone on behalf of the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.
Alexander Zakuskin recorded a video with apologies less than a day after Adam Delimkhanov’s call. “I would like to apologize. Once again I would like to emphasize that the conflict is exclusively domestic in nature, and not interethnic, as many are trying to imagine, ”said United Russia.
Today Alexander Zakuskin came to Salima Yusupkhadzhieva to apologize for the incident. “A modest bouquet for you from me. Once again my apologies. <…> There are fruits, sweets. <…> I rethought the whole situation, really, I shouldn’t have done that. You are my mother’s age. You – happiness, health. Get well soon. I hope you will forgive me,” Zakuskin said in a video posted by the Chechnya Today YouTube channel.
