Video footage appears to show Bella Ravoyan, 18, being carried out of an apartment block by two men (Picture: East2West News)
A woman was allegedly kidnapped by a family after she refused to marry a Russian man.
Video footage appears to show Bella Ravoyan, 18, being carried out of an apartment block in Tambov, in the west of the country, by two men.
She had reportedly rejected Amik Shamoyan, 20, after celebrating her 18th birthday.
An acquaintance told gazeta.ru: ‘Amik was in love with this girl, and they kidnapped her.
‘Bella’s father filed a complaint with the police, and she was returned.
‘Amik turned himself in to the police.’
Authorities said Shamoyan has been remanded in custody but are still looking to speak with his dad Oganes, 48, and brother Alo, 24.
The woman was said to have been taken to the Nizhny Novgorod region, and was reported missing by her dad.
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Other video footage appears to show Bella’s dad furiously brandishing a gun in a café owned by the family of the alleged kidnapper (Picture: East2West News)
Amik Shamoyan, 20, has been remanded in custody according to authorities (Picture: East2West News)
Shamoyan, left, pictured with his father Oganes, 48 (Picture: East2West News)
But several days later she managed to escape and went to the police.
Other video footage appears to show Bella’s dad furiously brandishing a gun in a café owned by the family of the alleged kidnapper – but didn’t fire.
The exact circumstances remain unclear but there are reports Bella is related to her kidnapper in some way.
There were other claims her dad wanted her to marry into a wealthier family.
The kidnapping has been portrayed by Russian media as a medieval ‘bride stealing’ custom still prevalent in some parts of the country.
The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed Shamoyan’s arrest and added: ‘His father and elder brother are on the federal wanted list.’
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Video footage appears to show Bella Ravoyan, 18, being carried out of an apartment block by two men.
