Nikita Zhuravel explains burning of Koran by selfish motives

Nikita Zhuravel, a Volgograd resident, has stated at his trial in Grozny that he had burned the Koran down in hopes of receiving a monetary reward.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 2, 2023, the court began considering the case of Zhuravel, accused of violating the right to the freedom of conscience and religion and hooliganism.

According to investigators, the detainee recorded a video of burning the Koran at the direction of Ukrainian special services and received 10,000 roubles for this. He handed over the recording to an employee of Ukrainian special services, for whom he also filmed military installations.

Zhuravel said that he was guided by material interests, the "Chechnya Today" News Agency has reported. According to Nikita, on the instructions of his customer, he filmed the movement of special equipment in Volgograd, painted "Beware, a killer is in the city today" on the wall under the bridge, and pasted leaflets on the topic of population evacuation. According to his story, he bought the Koran with his own money, and later 800 roubles were transferred to him – he didn't receive any other money, assuming that the reward would be "at the end of cooperation," the RIA "Novosti" writes.

Let us remind you that on October 13, 2023, in court, Zhuravel apologized to Muslims for his action, but admitted guilt only in the very fact of burning the Koran, claiming that he had no motives for gross violation of public order.