Security forces in Buryatia have detained an apartment owner who struck his sleeping friend in the head with an axe after an argument.
The victim was rushed to the hospital in serious condition, according to the regional administration of the National Guard of the Russian Federation.
The regional directorate of the security agency, known as Rosgvardia, informed news outlet Lenta.ru that the two men had spent several consecutive days drinking alcohol together in the flat.
A dispute eventually flared between the two companions. Authorities said that following the quarrel, the property owner fetched an axe and launched a violent assault on his visitor once the man had fallen asleep.
The victim sustained severe head injuries and was transported by emergency medical teams to a nearby hospital, where doctors admitted him for intensive care.
Police investigation and confession
Law enforcement officers took the homeowner into custody shortly after the incident. Officials confirmed that the suspect admitted his guilt during questioning and provided a full confession to investigators.
Authorities have opened a formal criminal case against the man on charges of attempted murder. Under the Russian criminal code, state investigators handle serious violent felonies involving weapons, and defendants convicted of attempted murder face lengthy sentences in a penal colony.
Rosgvardia role and Siberian territory
Rosgvardia, formally established in 2016 as an independent federal service, functions alongside the Russian interior ministry to maintain internal security, patrol municipalities, and detain armed suspects. Its regional directorates operate across all Russian republics and provinces to support local law enforcement during acute domestic emergencies.
The Republic of Buryatia lies in eastern Siberia, nestled along the eastern shoreline of Lake Baikal and sharing an international border with Mongolia. The vast territory features isolated settlements and regional centres governed from the capital city of Ulan-Ude.
The injured man remains under treatment for his critical head wounds while doctors assess his recovery. Investigators plan to conduct forensic examinations and gather physical evidence before moving the case forward to a regional court.
