Acts of lasciviousness complaint filed vs Russian diplomat

MANILA, Philippines — A Russian diplomat is facing an acts of lasciviousness complaint after a Filipina accused him of sexually harassing her in the lobby and inside an elevator of a condominium in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, last month.

According to the sworn affidavit filed by Marie Toni Aguilar with the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office, Russian national Amakhin Konstantin allegedly touched her back before placing his hand on her buttocks for about three seconds while they were waiting for an elevator in the lobby of One Maridien Condominium at around 10:40 p.m. on June 5.

Konstantin is an administrative and technical staff member of the Russian Embassy in Manila.

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READ: Taguig City police corporal in hot water for allegedly harassing minor

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“The contact was unsolicited, offensive, and inappropriate. I was immediately shocked and stunned by what had happened. When I turned and realized who had touched me, I froze and was unable to react due to fear, disbelief, and shock,” Aguilar’s affidavit read.

According to Aguilar, the alleged sexual harassment continued inside the elevator.

She said she intentionally positioned herself in a corner of the elevator as far away from the Russian national as possible. At one point, Konstantin began speaking, but Aguilar said his speech was slurred and inaudible and that he smelled of alcohol.

“As the elevator was moving, he approached me, invaded my personal space, attempted to grab my hand, and attempted to kiss me,” Aguilar said.

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“I repeatedly gestured for him to move away and turned my face away in an effort to avoid his attempted kiss,” she also said.

The accused exited on the fifth floor, after which Aguilar fled to her boyfriend’s unit on the 10th floor. In his sworn affidavit, her boyfriend said she arrived “crying uncontrollably, visibly distressed, trembling, and emotionally shaken.”

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In his affidavit, the boyfriend also alleged that the building’s security guards appeared more concerned about preventing a disturbance in the lobby than contacting the police.

The couple reported the incident to the building’s security personnel but were only advised to proceed to Police Sub-Station 1 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, where Aguilar formally reported the incident.

They were also told that the elevator’s Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera was not recording.

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Aguilar said building security representatives and two foreign nationals who identified themselves as representatives of the suspect later went to the police station.

“One of the individuals introduced himself as the Consul of Russia in the Philippines, while another identified himself as Nikolao V. Gutor, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of the Philippines,” Aguilar said.

“During discussions at the police station, these individuals repeatedly asked how I wished to resolve the matter and suggested possible options, including an apology from the respondent, his removal from the condominium and monetary compensation,” she also said, noting that the individuals asserted that the Russian national was entitled to diplomatic immunity.

Aguilar said she declined the proposals and maintained that she wanted the matter resolved through the proper legal process.

A day after the incident, Aguilar elevated her complaint to the Women and Children Protection Center at Camp Crame and formally reported the incident to the Violence Against Women and Children Desk.

She also underwent a psychological assessment at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City, where she was found to have suffered “severe emotional distress.”

“During the reporting process, I repeatedly cried and, at times, had difficulty breathing because of the emotional shock and anxiety caused by the respondent’s actions,” she said.

“Since the incident, I have continued to experience fear, anxiety, emotional distress, and difficulty carrying out my normal daily activities. I have not sustained visible physical injuries; however, the emotional and psychological impact of the incident has been significant,” she added.

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INQUIRER.net sought comment from the Russian Embassy in Manila but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. /dl