The Petrogradsky District Court of Saint Petersburg has sentenced photographer Vyacheslav Vasilyev to five years in a penal colony after he burned down a venue containing 24 purebred pigeons and three boa constrictors.
Judges found Vasilyev guilty of criminal charges including cruelty to animals, theft, and the intentional destruction or damage of another person's property. He will serve his term in a general regime penal colony, according to a statement provided to news outlet Lenta.ru by the joint press service of the Saint Petersburg court system.
Court findings established that the crime occurred on the evening of August 20, 2025. Investigators proved that Vasilyev purchased a canister of petrol at a gas station before walking to the target premises.
Once inside, Vasilyev poured petrol over animal pet carriers, vehicle tires, historical costumes worn by performers, 24 purebred pigeons, and three boa constrictors, before igniting the fuel. The resulting fire completely destroyed the animal enclosures and equipment.
Officials confirmed that the financial damage caused by the blaze exceeded two million roubles. The loss included expensive historical outfits used during entertainment shoots alongside live animals.
Arson Motive and Employer Dispute
Vasilyev admitted to the court that he had previously worked with the animals as a photographer and animator. He explained that a conflict with his employer on the day of the incident triggered the arson attack.
According to Vasilyev, his boss had underpaid him for his work and issued a verbal reprimand. The photographer told investigators that he decided to burn the venue and the animals specifically to seek revenge against his employer.
The Petrogradsky District Court oversees criminal proceedings within the Petrogradsky administrative district of Saint Petersburg, Russia's second largest city. In Russian criminal law, sentences served in general regime penal colonies involve standard confinement measures for serious property and cruelty offenses.
Photographers and street animators in major Russian urban centers frequently operate entertainment venues or mobile photo booths, utilizing trained birds, exotic reptiles, and period costumes for public photography.
Related Russian Arson Cases
The court ruling follows a separate Russian arson case previously reported by media outlets, in which a resident of Korolev set fire to six parked automobiles. In that incident, the suspect confessed that he lit the vehicles on fire solely to observe emergency response crews arriving at the scene.
Korolev is a major industrial city in the Moscow region, where local law enforcement and emergency services handle municipal fire safety and arson investigations.
