‘Clear disrespect for society’ Russian man arrested after juggling with live hedgehog at first-day-of school celebration

Police in the Russian city of Novosibirsk arrested a local man on Monday after he staged a performance outside a school that involved juggling with a live hedgehog, according to local Telegram channels.

Witnesses reported that after arriving at the school, Denis Fadeyev began juggling balls, and at one point he pulled out a live hedgehog and tossed it in the air. Fadeyev told the Telegram channel Baza he had come to the school “to help ease the children’s nerves” on their first day of school.

According to the Telegram channel Akademgorodok Society, Fadeyev was wearing three pairs of pants. When he removed one of the outer layers, onlookers called police, fearing he was an exhibitionist. As he began to gather his things to leave, officers arrived and restrained him. Video filmed by bystanders shows Fadeyev screaming loudly. Baza also reported that doctors had previously diagnosed him with two spinal hernias.

The regional Interior Ministry branch said that officers detained a man born in 1991 who had “committed a public-order violation showing clear disrespect for society.” “When approached by a juvenile affairs inspector, the man ignored the warning and used physical force against the officer,” the ministry claimed.

Fadeyev was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine or up to 15 days in jail. Police have referred the case to the Investigative Committee, which has not yet commented.

During the arrest, the hedgehog ran away. Fadeyev told Baza he knows hedgehogs’ habits well and plans to search for it as soon as he’s released. He continued: