Dad forced friend to dig own grave and end his life for abusing his daughter

A horrified dad took matters into his own hands after discovering a close friend had been abusing his six-year-old daughter.

In August 2020, Vyacheslav Matrosov found himself living out every parent's worst nightmare after discovering that a close friend of his had allegedly been abusing his young daughter.

The 35-year-old Russian uncovered the abuse after finding sickening videos on pal Oleg Sviridov's phone, showing the 32-year-old forcing the youngster to commit sex acts.

A horrified Matrosov informed his wife Natalya of the abuse which had taken place, who described his reaction as 'hysterical'.

"I had never seen him like that," she told local news outlets, via The Sun, adding that it took him a 'long time' to explain the severity of the situation to her.

Vyacheslav Matrosov and his wife, Natalya (East2West)

"With his trembling hands, he took out Oleg’s phone and showed me a video," she continued.

"You cannot imagine what I experienced when I saw it. I felt sick, I was dizzy, and nauseous."

Enraged by what had happened, Matrosov decided to pursue vigilante justice and confronted Sviridov over his actions.

Matrosov led Sviridov into a remote area of woodland in Russia, near his home in the village of Pribrezhnoye, where he then reportedly forced his former pal to dig his own grave. According to The Sun, the dad then stabbed Sviridov, but other reports claim that Matrosov convinced the 32-year-old to take his own life.

Sviridov's body was later found in the makeshift grave.

A few weeks later, Matrosov came clean about the incident, telling local police that he'd attacked Sviridov in retribution for him abusing his daughter.

The former rocket engine factory worker was arrested and initially faced murder charges, carrying up to 15 years in jail.

However, it was later ruled that Sviridov's injuries were self-inflicted, with Matrosov instead prosecuted for 'inciting a person to suicide or attempted suicide by threats or abuse'.

Alleged sex abuser Oleg Sviridov (East2West)

The location where Matrosov forced Sviridov to dig his own grave (East2West)

This charge carries a sentence of up to six years, with Matrosov ultimately handed 18 months behind bars after being found guilty of inciting Sviridov to take his own life.

He was released six months early and hailed as a hero in his local village, with many residents signing a petition calling for him to be acquitted.

The case attracted attention around the world, and from prominent figures, with Russian TV star and former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak, sharing her support for Matrosov.

"All parents are standing up for the paedophile's killer," she said at the time, according to The Express.