Armed Russian Businessman Seizes Imperial Throne In Hermitage Hall

• 17.05.2026, 18:35

Video Fact.

A businessman from Gorbunkov seized the throne in the Hermitage Hall and put on a show. When the 45-year-old man tried to escort him out, he pulled out knives. This "Fontanka" became known on May 17.

The incident occurred after two o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday. A large, athletic-looking man climbed on the elevation on which the throne is installed and began to loudly read out some papers he had brought with him. The assembled spectators heard that he was a businessman. There were words about bribes, loans and ruining the speaker.

A Hermitage employee tried to pull the man down. The employee climbed over a rope fence and up the steps. But then the throne invader pulled out two knives and headed towards the cultural worker. The latter had to back away.

Rosgvardiya officers were soon on the scene. They took the visitors out of the hall and detained the armed entrepreneur. The troublemaker was taken to the Central District Police.

The large imperial throne was made in the 17th century for Empress Anna Ioannovna.