The husband of the director of New Holland was detained for posts about the terrorist attack: his wife paid the price

St. Petersburg decorator Nikolai Konashenok was detained at Pulkovo airport after publications on social networks related to the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. Information about this was disseminated by the Fontanka publication, citing its sources. This was later confirmed by the police.

Konashenok is the husband of Roxana Shatunovskaya, general director of New Holland. After her husband’s wild statements about the terrorist attack, Shatunovskaya had to leave her post on March 25.

Konashenko was escorted out of the airport by two police officers; the reason for his detention was not officially announced. We only know that he was planning to fly from Pulkovo to Yerevan.

The police confirmed the detention of Nikolai at Pulkovo airport. The message on the Telegram channel of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region does not indicate his last name, only the fact that he was detained while trying to leave Russia. The suspect was taken to the department for further work. Statements will be checked for extremism.

What happened

After the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, Nikolai Konashenok posted two posts on his page. The man’s statements really seem wild against the backdrop of the tragedy with hundreds of dead and injured people. In particular, Konashenok wrote: “Why Crocus and not the Kremlin?” and reflected on the group “Picnic”: “Picnic is a monstrous group, but still a little small, what a team concert Brat-2 would be (with all the love for A.O.B.).” The man later deleted these posts. But it was too late. His words were replicated by patriotic channels.

Konashenok later retold the contents of the posts, considerably softening their essence.

“Yesterday I posted two posts on a social network… I was thinking about why the accident happened at the concert of the Picnic group, and not some other musical group,” Konashenok said. He called the wildest words about the largest terrorist attack in modern history just “thoughts.” True, the police did not think so.

I had to apologize

On the evening of March 25, St. Petersburg police distributed a video in which Konashenok asked for forgiveness for his words. Footage of an apologetic man was published by Fontanka. He retold the contents of the published posts, but in a much softer sense. And then he asked for forgiveness.

“My words were perceived by a wide audience as supporting terrorism. I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. I do not support terrorism, a monstrous crime has been committed,” Konashenok babbled.

According to the publication, the man was detained at the airport by Center E employees. Now Konashenko’s words will be tested for extremism.

What is known about Nikolai Konashenko

Nikolai Konashenok, a former journalist for the publications Kommersant, Afisha and Sobaka.ru, loves sailing, translates books from English and Turkish, and worked as a bartender.

In 2014, he switched to carpentry, founding an atelier where he restores Eastern European furniture from the 1960s and 1970s found in junkyards, flea markets and free classified ads. He also makes his own furniture. Konashenok also has a small stake in one of the bars.

The wife answered for her husband

After the publications, her husband, director of New Holland Roxana Shatunovskaya, who held this post for 13 years, decided to leave the company. Company representatives announced this in an official statement on March 25.

“We are deeply shocked by the tragedy that occurred. Our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims, and we also wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” commented the situation in New Holland.

The company’s press service emphasized that the detained Nikolai Konashenok had no connection with the activities of the project and was not its employee.

Shatunovskaya confirmed his dismissal “by mutual agreement” with management on social networks. She did not hide the reason for parting with the company.

“I can no longer hold my position and fulfill my duties due to the fact that a family member allowed himself monstrous statements incompatible with humanity,” Roxana wrote, adding that she personally adheres to universal human values ​​and sympathizes with all victims of the terrorist attack, but remains with my family.

State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov said that he would contact the police and demand that Konashenko be placed “on the next bench with the terrorist creatures.”

At the moment, the death toll in the terrorist attack has risen to 139 people. Debris clearance continues.