Russian Man Jailed for Falsely Threatening Bomb to Secure Food and Shelter

Moscow. In the modern world, people strive for freedom, but a 20-year-old man in Russia chose the unusual path of going to jail just to secure food and shelter. Oleg (name changed), from the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia, planned to go to jail after failing to find work or a place to live, by making a false bomb threat.

Recently, the court fulfilled his 'dream of going to jail' by sentencing him to 3 years and 2 months in prison for the same offense. After completing his military service, Oleg went to the Russian city of Ufa in search of employment. When he couldn't find a job despite many attempts and had no money left, he became very desperate.

After wandering the streets hungry for three days, he conceived a plan to commit a crime, thinking that if he went to jail, he would at least get two meals a day and a roof over his head. Initially, he entered a hotel and threatened that he had a bomb in his bag, but the hotel staff did not believe him. After that, he jumped out of the window and went straight to the airport.

Upon reaching the terminal at Ufa Airport, he raised his bag and started shouting that he had a bomb and would detonate it. He also warned everyone not to come near until the police and negotiation team arrived. Security personnel, upon seeing no wires or explosive devices in his bag, took him into custody and handed him over to the police. After a search revealed nothing, Oleg admitted that he had lied intentionally to get arrested.

In psychological testing, Oleg's mental state was found to be healthy. The court found him guilty of disturbing public safety and spreading terror, and decided to send him to a penal colony.

This is not the first incident in Russia where people have intentionally sought arrest due to unemployment and poverty. Previously, cases have been reported where sick and lonely individuals have requested to be sent to jail for government shelter and medical care.