Russian Scientist In Antarctica Attacked Co-Worker For Spoiling Book Endings
The Orthodox Church in the Russian Bellingshausen Station in Antarctica, on March 13, 2014. Image by Getty Images/VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/Staff
By PJ Grisar October 30, 2018
By its nature Antarctica, has the lowest crime rate of any continent. Housing only a few thousand souls across approximately 66 research bases, spread far apart, the small population of mostly scientists doesn’t allow for many opportunities for extralegal activities. But this month a Russian scientist has been extradited back to his home country after allegedly trying to stab his colleague.
Business Insider reports that on October 9, scientific engineer Sergey Savitsky attacked Oleg Beloguzov with a kitchen knife and is now facing what are likely the first attempted murder charges in Antarctic history. The pair had worked together for four years at the Bellingshausen station on King George Island before Savitsky rushed Beloguzov in the station’s canteen.
The two had taken to reading books from the station library in their time on the remote island, a part of the South Shetland island group. Russian investigators reported that Beloguzov “kept telling his colleague the endings of books before he read them” and that this appears to have triggered the altercation.
In the alleged attack Beloguzov was injured in the chest and brought to Chile for treatment. His life was not reported to be in danger. The Russian news agency Interfax reported that Savitsky surrendered of his own volition to the station commander. Afterwards he was brought to Saint Petersburg where he was arrested and has been placed under house arrest until December 8.
“They are both professional scientists who have been working in our expeditions, spending year-long seasons at the station.” Alexander Klepikov, deputy director of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, [told the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. “It is down to investigators to figure out what sparked the conflict, but both men are members of our team.”
Savitsky has since expressed remorse at his actions, which the Daily Mail reports may have been fueled by alcohol. Cabin fever may also have played a role; the Daily Mail writes the lodgings at Bellingshausen were notably cramped.
PJ Grisar is the Forward’s culture intern. He can be reached at grisar@forward.com
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