180 Russian police officers search for 'kidnapped' bride

Moscow police were deployed to rescue a "kidnapped" bride but it turned out to be just a wedding custom.

Moscow police deploy forces to rescue "kidnapped bride".Image:Russia 24 TV

According to BBC, the incident happened on September 1, when witnesses reported seeing a group of people lock a young woman in a minivan and drive away.

Immediately after receiving the information, Moscow police launched a response plan to search for the kidnapped victim. Within half an hour, more than 180 police officers checked 24 cars matching the description. They eventually found the suspicious vehicle in the northeast of the city.

The young woman was found in the car with five men. However, they later explained that they were simply carrying out the custom of "bride kidnapping".

According to this custom, the groom will kidnap the girl he wants to marry, even though she may not agree, and then demand ransom.

The practice is still widespread in the Caucasus and Central Asia, where actual kidnappings have also occurred. Women in Kazakhstan recently organized a “Don’t Be Silent” campaign to protest against this practice and other forms of violence against women.

Moscow police said this was the third time in the past week they had received reports of similar incidents.

According to VNE