Belarusian National Arrested After Brutal Assault on Afghan Toddler at Moscow Airport

Disturbing video footage shot at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport shows a Belarusian man slamming an 18-month-old Afghan boy to the floor. The toddler is currently in a coma, with skull fractures and spinal injuries. 

The 31-year-old Belarusian national Vladimir Vitkov, was filmed on June 24 in the airport’s arrival hall. The footage, which has since gone viral on social media attracting much horror and outrage, shows a pregnant mother with her baby in the arrivals hall with Vitkov. When the mother stepped away to collect the kid’s stroller, Vitkov was seen checking for witnesses before grabbing the child and slamming him to the ground. Eyewitnesses intervened swiftly, preventing more harm to the child.

Vitkov who had flown in on the day from either Cyprus or Egypt was detained on suspicions of being under the influence of drugs. His blood tests later confirmed the presence of cannabis, and investigators reportedly found substances in his possession.

The 31-year-old has since confessed to attempted murder, and said he “made mistakes like that,” according to Russian Investigative Committee. 

While investigation into the motive is ongoing, authorities are exploring whether racial prejudice played a role, given the toddler’s Afghan origin.

This incident is part of a larger trend within Russia of racially-motivated violence against migrants and non-Slavic minorities.

Following the March 2024 Crocus City Hall terrorist strike—linked to Central Asian perpetrators—hate crimes in Russia have increased. Police raids, workplace discrimination, housing restrictions, and community backlash intensified against Central Asian migrants. Incidents of hate crimes in Russia have nearly doubled in the past two years, reported the Sova Centre. From 69 hate crimes in 2023 to 163 in 2024. The victims include Central Asians, Caucasians, Indians, dark-skinned individuals, and mixed-ethnicity children.

Human Rights Watch has also released reports documenting xenophobic harassment—physical assaults, ethnic profiling, arbitrary arrests—against labour migrants, particularly from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.