A recent scandal in Switzerland has drawn widespread online attention. On October 14, a Ukrainian woman named Olena was traveling with her husband and young son by train from Interlaken to Spiez. Sitting nearby, a Russian-speaking man was consuming alcohol. He began acting aggressively after hearing them speak Ukrainian.
The man threatened the family, demanded they leave the train car, and insulted them due to their nationality. He claimed to pay taxes in Switzerland and demanded the husband show a Swiss passport, further threatening physical violence. At one point, he knocked the phone from Olena's hands, becoming even more aggressive.
The conflict was noticed by other passengers, some of whom called the police. The attacker was detained at the next station after documents were checked, but the family had to contact the police again for further action. Similar incidents involving this man had been reported before – witnesses say he had previously threatened Ukrainian refugees and women with children on public transport.
Social media users identified the attacker as Aleksandr Vabiks, a Latvian citizen residing in Zurich. He has repeatedly shown aggression toward Ukrainians, as documented in various videos and victim statements. After the case received publicity, both Swiss and Latvian law enforcement began criminal proceedings against him.
The Ukrainian embassy has already offered support to the victims. The spokesperson for Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Swiss police to conduct a thorough investigation. Authorities are now working to clarify the circumstances and assess the legality of the attacker's stay in Switzerland.
The victims hope that the attacker will be held accountable and that similar incidents will not occur in the future.
