Couple in strife for flinging dog poo at Russian neighbour
A couple who allegedly threw dog poo at their Russian neighbour and threatened him are now facing ethnic discrimination charges.
Over the past few weeks, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has been investigating several incidents of harassment and intimidation directed at the Russian man.
Police said yard signs were defaced with political and anti-national messages, a bag of rice with a similar message was thrown onto his property and he was subject to coarse language and threats.
The messages condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin, and dog poo was left in the yard. According to police, an immediate neighbour and his family have reported being harassed almost everyday since Russia invaded Ukraine.
One of the victims of this abuse was identified as Vasily Potanin, his father Vladimir Potanin is a multi-billionaire and used to be Russia's deputy prime minister.
Mr Potanin says he does not support Russia's attack on Ukraine.
“They assume that just because of my nationality, I must be profiting from that. I’m Putin’s spy. I work for him. All this nonsense,” he said.
“Honestly I think for them, the best thing that can happen is they can have the consequences legally for their actions and they should face them.”
Mr Potanin said he had received hateful messages in the mail, ordering him to leave the neighbourhood in which he has resided for four years.
Image: Pittsburgh Police