On November 3, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. A Vitebsk resident was stabbed in the heart for demanding fare payment on public transport. This was reported today at a briefing by Vladimir Pristavko, Head of the Operational Duty Service Department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, BELTA correspondent reports. In the afternoon of October 29, a man traveling on a trolleybus along Frunze Avenue reprimanded a fare-dodging passenger and demanded that he pay the fare. The participants decided to continue the escalating conflict in a less crowded place, for which they got off at the nearest stop and entered one of the courtyards. Events then unfolded rapidly: the fare-dodger pulled out a table knife he had with him, plunged it into his opponent's heart, and fled. Despite the severe injury, the victim managed to report the incident to the police via the hotline 102 and provide a description of the attacker. The prompt reaction of law enforcement officers saved the life of the wounded man and also led to the swift detention of the assailant, even though he had already managed to change his jacket and hat. A criminal case has been initiated against the unemployed and previously unconvicted Vitebsk resident for attempted murder. An investigation is underway. -0-

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