The Coordination Council of Afghanistan’s Political and Consular Missions has condemned the violent assault on a two-year-old Afghan child at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. It has called on Russian authorities to launch an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation.
The incident occurred on the evening of Monday, 23 June, when a 31-year-old Belarusian man reportedly picked up the child, who had fled conflict in Iran with his pregnant mother, and slammed him violently onto the floor of the airport terminal.
According to Russian media, the child sustained severe head injuries and remains in a coma. Authorities have arrested the suspect and launched an investigation into attempted murder.
In a statement shared by the Afghan Embassy in Australia on Thursday, 25 June, the council described the assault as a “brutal and inhumane act” and a clear violation of human dignity. It urged Russian officials to uncover the full circumstances of the attack and ensure justice is served.
“It is imperative to uncover the truth, establish the motives behind this crime, and ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable under the rule of law,” the council said.
The statement stressed that the incident highlights the vulnerability of Afghan refugees and the need for greater international attention to their safety and dignity, particularly that of children and other at-risk groups.
“We urge the Russian authorities to act with the necessary transparency and decisiveness to deliver justice in this case,” the council added.
The motive behind the Belarusian man’s actions remains unclear. Reports suggest the suspect had recently travelled from Kabul to Moscow and was exhibiting erratic behaviour at the time of the incident.
The child was reportedly alone in the terminal when the attack occurred, as his mother had stepped away briefly to collect their luggage. The family had recently arrived in Moscow after fleeing the war in Iran.
