In 2020, a Russian father, Vyacheslav Matrosov, discovered that a close friend had committed a serious crime against his six-year-old daughter. The discovery deeply traumatized the family and led to a dramatic and tragic chain of events.
After finding evidence on his friend’s phone, Matrosov confronted Oleg Sviridov at the family home. A violent argument followed. Matrosov’s wife later said her husband was extremely distressed and acting out of character after learning what had happened to their child.
Following the confrontation, Sviridov was taken to a wooded area, where he later died. His body was found days afterward. Matrosov later went to the police and explained what had occurred. Investigators ruled that Sviridov’s fatal injuries were self-inflicted, which led prosecutors to drop murder charges.
Instead, Matrosov was charged and later convicted of encouraging another person to take their own life. In 2022, a court sentenced him to 18 months in prison. He served about one year before being released.
After his release, many people in his village welcomed him back and publicly supported him. Residents raised money for his legal costs and described him as a hero. The case attracted widespread attention and sparked debate in Russia and beyond about justice, the law, and how society responds when children are harmed.