Beaten in Odessa

[vaiano777]

On Friday late night, I started receiving emails from one of my client's parents. The guy is from Texas, 35 years old, and a genuinely nice guy, but not the strongest character type in the world. Actually, he is as soft as melted ice cream. So, his parents began worrying about him because he hadn't even been online, and he is in constant communication with his parents.

He had been here last October, and I tried to help him then, but he insisted on going through Anastasia website. He had even bought a book to help him understand the culture and what to do here and what not to do here, but was still put together for a $325 dinner. You know the drill, led to the back room, given the best possible service, the girl ordering for him without ever showing him the menu, expensive wine or alcohol, etc. He just sat by as all of this happened.

This time, I tried to help him find a flat while he had decided he was going to stay here in Odessa until August. We couldn't find him a flat he liked for the price he wanted this time, so he decided to get a cheap place for a week and then to start looking for a longer term apartment during that time. That was the last time I heard from him and that was last Sunday. So, he went on a couple of dates, and had a translator helping him, but honestly, now that I have met her and spent time with her, I can tell you, she is as dumb as a box of rocks.

Back to the story. His parents were worrying, so, I took off of work early on Saturday so me and a friend of mine who has lived here for 6 years and speaks fluently could try to find him. We were going to go to his apartment, and knew the address, but not the actual apartment number. So, about 230 in the afternoon I receive a call from an American guy from New York that I had met the same time as this guy. That New Yorker has been here about 25 times, so he is pretty well versed in the ways of the world here in Ukraine.

The translator had gone to this guy's flat, and he had answered the door, and had been badly beaten, blood was everywhere, robbed, and so she called her mother because her mother is a doctor. So, mom started treating his wounds and thought it would be a good idea to call the cops. That is when I received the call.

I got there with my translator, a wonderfully, generous old-fashioned matchmaker who only wants to help people. The police were determined to take this poor guy to the police station for questions. This guy had been beaten within an inch of his life, and had been lying on his floor in his flat for almost three days with no food and no water, unconscious - The beautiful Ukrainian police were determined to take him to the police station for more questions. When I got there, I could see that he needed medical attention, and I insisted that we take him to the hospital first, and that the police can ask him any questions that they want at the hospital. You would think that is normal, right??? Not here.

The police had no regard for this guy's health or safety, but instead wanted to take him to the station in order to fleece him - or his parents, or someone in America who would definitely send money - of course.

So, it took my wonderful matchmaker an hour to convince the police to let us take him to the hospital. We took him to the hospital and he has numerous concussions, and two broken ribs, and was obviously not very coherent nor could he answer many of my questions.

The New Yorker called the embassy and consulate, said he had arranged for someone to come to take care of everything, but this is the third day and we still haven't heard from anyone. I told him to give the consulate my number and told him what hospital we were going to.

So, here is the story of what happened. He was on his third date with a girl from Anastasia, and her English wasn't that great, but they were without a translator. And, his personal translator had to go to University and study for exams, so she wasn't there either. The translator had told this guy that she didn't like this girl, so she didn't even keep the girl's cell phone number. I think that is why the guy was with this girl from Anastasia without his translator, as he knew she didn't like this girl.

The girl walked with him back to his flat, and of course, he is gentle, non-confrontational, and thinking maybe he was going to get lucky. She made up some story about needing to give her mobile phone to her sister, and that her sister was going to pick it up from her, and she asked this guy if he'd buy her a cell phone. He agreed because he is an agreeable guy.

So, she was on the phone, walked to the front door, and told him to come to the front door. As she opened the door, she moved out of the way, and he never saw it coming. He was hit in the right temple with a huge mallet. His head blew up as he flew backward and too his left (I could tell all of this from the blood. The blood really does tell a story.) He was in a short (about 5 foot) doorway or hallway between the front door and the main room. He reached for the second set of doors, got hit again and a third time as he went through this doorway. The back of his head hit the wall and left a big mark where the back of his head hit the wall. Then, he fell to the ground and was repeatedly kicked and beaten until he lay motionless. There was spatter on the wall going away from the door indicating that he'd been kicked perfectly, and blood spattered from his mouth or head up that second wall. There was pooling in two places on the floor where he had lay motionless and unconscious for more than two days. There was also blood across the room on the sofa as well where he had tried to crawl to get away, but he had ended up back near the doorway.

The girl and probably two or three guys left in a hurry because they left the mallet, and she left her belt for her coat, a big wide, black belt. I think this might have been the first time she has been involved in this type of thing.

So, the guy has been in the hospital for two days, and he will be staying with me until his mother comes from America to stay with him. He cannot travel for a minimum of three weeks as the lesions in his head need time to heal from the head trauma, numerous concussions, and broken ribs.

However, here is the interesting part. I have an Anastasia account and I have already printed all pictures of girls by this specific name in Odessa, and the guy and his translator have identified the girl. That was the easy part. The question becomes, what is next? I have both Ukrainian and American friends outraged, and know people who can handle this in the Ukrainian way.

Of course, the American way would be to inform the police. The Ukrainian police would pick her up, but then, she would just use the money that she received from the robbery to pay the judge and she would get off scott free. What about the guys who participated. If we wanted her prosecuted, we'd have to pay more than the judge received from her to get her prosecuted, but I can call up the guys to handle this for less than we would have to pay the judge and prosecutor.

If you do it the old-fashioned way, then she and the guys are punished and will definitely not do anything like this again. They would be able to suffer the consequences of their actions, which is usually the only way a person learns their lesson.

Another option is that I could put this on Ukrainian television as I have a television reporter from the Kiev 1 + 1 Televisions station who was looking to interview me, and create a scandalous story about Ukrainian girls who deceive foreign men. I refused the interview about three months ago in fact.

What did they steal? The stole about $900 in cash, a laptop, an ipad, an iphone, and that is it.

Given the circumstances, and knowing people from all sides, what would you do in this situation? I am enraged as this guy was definitely low hanging fruit. I have been here for 4 years and have never had an issue like this, but I did take care of another guy who was beaten and robbed last June. I took him into my flat and fed him and nursed him back to health until he could receive money from back home and return to America.

Again, given all of the factors, do you take care of this girl the old-school way? Or, what other choices are there here in your mind. 

[BBC]

Undoubtedly police should still be informed about your findings, whether you believe in their professionalism and honesty, or not. Reporters is a good idea, they can be involved in case if you see that the police is not efficient. US reporters could be better, though, if possible to call.

[edu]

I think she needs to understand there are repercussions for her actions. Whether it's the legal way or Dirty Harry because she prolly will continue doing this to other men.  And this time someone can really really get hurt.

Also, there has to be some actual documentation, whether it's from local police and AMEMB in case this man wants to explore a civil lawsuit against Anastasia.

[Belvis]

The Ukrainian police would pick her up, but then, she would just use the money that she received from the robbery to pay the judge and she would get off scott free.

Don't underestimate Ukrainian juridical system. It's ineffective but nevertheless works unless politics or high level corruption involved. This girl and her partners in crime are not those Ukrainian police has difficulties to handle.
Otherwise these guys will be encouraged to continue assaults on foreigners.

[Gator]

Thanks for giving us the news, albeit bad news.  I hope the AM makes a 100% recovery; however, the blows to the head could cause permanent damage.
 
It illustrates the perils of travel and why caution is necessary.  During my many visits the FSUW always cautioned me to not open the apartment door unless I knew the person.
 
The woman from Anastasia must be really dumb because she can be named by the AM and there would be records at the agency and other evidence indicating the AM was with her.    She is the primary culprit because she facilitated if not arranged the robbery and then abandoned a badly injured victim who easily could have died from his injuries.
 
What to do?  I would think the mother (a close relative of the victim) should work through the US State Dept to pressure the UA government to pursue the matter.  It needs to happen quickly before the trail of evidence becomes cold.
 
Seemingly the UA government would not want publicity  because it would discourage foreigners from traveling to Odessa and Ukraine.     Nor does the UA govt want this to happen again.  That suggests the police would want to apprehend and "punish" the offenders quickly and quietly if pressured by the US State Department.  Then again, who knows what motivates the UA govt and police?
 
Please keep us informed.

[Chicagoguy]

This is terrible. I hope he heals. Lucky his mother was checking up on him - all alone and helpless in his room.
This stuff used to happen in Russia in the early 90's. I was at the huge Rossia hotel and when my Russian male friend from Siberia was going back to his room he said to me "Don't open your door for anyone".Sure enough, there came a knocking. I always looked out the peephole making sure there was no shadow. It was always a prostitute. But one time I could just barely see that someone else was pressed up close to the wall. Couldn't see who and I never answered anybody. Wanted the room to look empty.
But the truth is the "floor lady" was probably in on it. I think those days are gone. Aren't they ??

[CDW]

First of all, I am deeply sorry for the man who suffered deeply.  I wish him a very speedy recovery.

My mother always says "do not open the door to anyone whom I do not know"

I was very angry with my ex-girlfriend from Tashkent, when she opened the door in an apartment in Kiev at 11.30pm.  I told her not to open it, but she ignored my request.   It was the man who came in for the rent!  At 11.30pm !!!   Earlier we were told that he would come tomorrow morning.  Obviously we weren't expecting anyone, and I told her that this is not Tashkent!! 

I hope this bitchy will get arrested as you already have her details/photos, and also fingerprints from the belt and the mallet.

I would also sue Anastasia website !!!

[lonedrake]

 That is a horrible story. He is lucky to have survived. Now he has to recover and who knows why kind of long lasting damage has occurred.

Again, given all of the factors, do you take care of this girl the old-school way?

 I vote for the old-school method. Not only will she/they learn much quicker the word will get out to others to stay away from any of your clients. You need to protect your clients and your business. I see this as the best way to accomplish this. Plus....it just the right thing to do!

[GQBlues]

There's no rule of law in Ukraine, so there really is no justifiable persecution/apprehension sane enough to appeace the soul. If getting *even* gnaws at his/their vein...then there really is only one way to get that done. Had the guy been a relative or an associate of mine those guys lives will never be the same once the deed is done.
 
But bottom line is, and likely the single biggest *help* you can give the guy is make him become a more intuned man with gender relations (relating to women) and try to avoid being a typical MOB-type male.

[mies]

The woman from Anastasia must be really dumb because she can be named by the AM and there would be records at the agency and other evidence indicating the AM was with her.    She is the primary culprit because she facilitated if not arranged the robbery and then abandoned a badly injured victim who easily could have died from his injuries.

Maybe she wasn't dumb, maybe she wasn't expecting that he will speak again. Maybe they thought the attacked man was already dead.

As for legal vs. illegal ways to solve the problem.
Imagine, this woman is beautiful and young. And she is part of the gang. Possibly forced or convinced to go into this trade by her criminal boyfriend. Maybe she was threatened to do it. Or maybe she is pure evil, and designed this plot. Anyway. Imagine, you choose the "unofficial" way to deal with this problem and teach her the lesson. What may happen? She will be beaten up and her face deformed in some way - broken nose, large scar on the cheek, other things like that. Maybe she will have some broken bones and major injuries. I know of two stories in Kiev, when the "punished" person lost ears to stay marked for life, and a story when the girl had boiling water thrown into her face because she wasn't cooperative. So, supposedly, the OP arranges something like this for the evil girl. Will she stop her criminal trade? No. She won't. She's already up to her ears in this sh-t, and she won't get out.

Now, if the OP will use the legal means (going to the police) there is a slight possibility that the woman will be prosecuted. There is no saying whether she will stay alive, and for how long. Quite likely - she will be "removed" by the male gang members - because the AM can identify her, and she can give away their names to the police.



I think using the "unofficial" method, the OP will facilitate exactly the same type of activity as had caused physical traumas to the fellow American. However, this method is efficient and does create strong memories.
I do not think it creates the reflex "don't rob people", it may create the reflex "make sure your victim is dead before you leave the apartment." It also will have no effect on other gangs who may be having similar plans on robbing naive foreigners.

Also, investigate the possibility of  going against the agency instead of going against the girl alone. Request investigation into agency activity because some of the agency employees may have conspired with her. Using mass media will warn the potential victims.

[Faux Pas]

There's no rule of law in Ukraine, so there really is no justifiable persecution/apprehension sane enough to appeace the soul. If getting *even* gnaws at his/their vein...then there really is only one way to get that done. Had the guy been a relative or an associate of mine those guys lives will never be the same once the deed is done.
 
But bottom line is, and likely the single biggest *help* you can give the guy is make him become a more intuned man with gender relations (relating to women) and try to avoid being a typical MOB-type male.

I'm sorry for the guy, I really am. I agree with you here GQ, if I understand you correctly. I too, would take the eye for an eye approach rather than look for any remedy with the police.

I shutter to think this guy is typical MOB-type. Do you really think he's typical? I find myself acutely aware of the evil that lurks no matter where I find myself

[Faux Pas]

Maybe she wasn't dumb, maybe she wasn't expecting that he will speak again. Maybe they thought the attacked man was already dead.

As for legal vs. illegal ways to solve the problem.
Imagine, this woman is beautiful and young. And she is part of the gang. Possibly forced or convinced to go into this trade by her criminal boyfriend. Maybe she was threatened to do it. Or maybe she is pure evil, and designed this plot. Anyway. Imagine, you choose the "unofficial" way to deal with this problem and teach her the lesson. What may happen? She will be beaten up and her face deformed in some way - broken nose, large scar on the cheek, other things like that. Maybe she will have some broken bones and major injuries. I know of two stories in Kiev, when the "punished" person lost ears to stay marked for life, and a story when the girl had boiling water thrown into her face because she wasn't cooperative. So, supposedly, the OP arranges something like this for the evil girl. Will she stop her criminal trade? No. She won't. She's already up to her ears in this sh-t, and she won't get out.

Now, if the OP will use the legal means (going to the police) there is a slight possibility that the woman will be prosecuted. There is no saying whether she will stay alive, and for how long. Quite likely - she will be "removed" by the male gang members - because the AM can identify her, and she can give away their names to the police.



I think using the "unofficial" method, the OP will facilitate exactly the same type of activity as had caused physical traumas to the fellow American. However, this method is efficient and does create strong memories.
I do not think it creates the reflex "don't rob people", it may create the reflex "make sure your victim is dead before you leave the apartment." It also will have no effect on other gangs who may be having similar plans on robbing naive foreigners.

Also, investigate the possibility of  going against the agency instead of going against the girl alone. Request investigation into agency activity because some of the agency employees may have conspired with her. Using mass media will warn the potential victims.

So mies, your solution is to go to the police and/or attack the agency in the media? IMHO, neither punishes the perpetrators.

Maybe it was a gang, maybe it wasn't but, IME fighting fire with fire can also produce desired results

[edu]

Maybe she wasn't dumb, maybe she wasn't expecting that he will speak again. Maybe they thought the attacked man was already dead.

As for legal vs. illegal ways to solve the problem.
Imagine, this woman is beautiful and young. And she is part of the gang. Possibly forced or convinced to go into this trade by her criminal boyfriend. Maybe she was threatened to do it. Or maybe she is pure evil, and designed this plot. Anyway. Imagine, you choose the "unofficial" way to deal with this problem and teach her the lesson. What may happen? She will be beaten up and her face deformed in some way - broken nose, large scar on the cheek, other things like that. Maybe she will have some broken bones and major injuries. I know of two stories in Kiev, when the "punished" person lost ears to stay marked for life, and a story when the girl had boiling water thrown into her face because she wasn't cooperative. So, supposedly, the OP arranges something like this for the evil girl. Will she stop her criminal trade? No. She won't. She's already up to her ears in this sh-t, and she won't get out.

Now, if the OP will use the legal means (going to the police) there is a slight possibility that the woman will be prosecuted. There is no saying whether she will stay alive, and for how long. Quite likely - she will be "removed" by the male gang members - because the AM can identify her, and she can give away their names to the police.

I think using the "unofficial" method, the OP will facilitate exactly the same type of activity as had caused physical traumas to the fellow American. However, this method is efficient and does create strong memories.
I do not think it creates the reflex "don't rob people", it may create the reflex "make sure your victim is dead before you leave the apartment."

Why she did it becomes irrelevant at this time.  Most people have their reasons for breaking the law and hurting others.  If we start to feel sorry for them and try to overlook their transgressions, then most criminals will be given a pass.  What matters is that one human being being almost lost his life. 

I have dealt with unsavory characters from many countries and I have learned that women can also be cold blooded sociopaths.

Going old style on them will certainly punish them, but I think the law has to be involved. If they won't do it then they should be shamed into taking action.  This way other girls can take notice that they can destroy their lives over an IPad and $900.  I told this story to one girl from Kherson that I know.  She didn't seem to care about the man and it tells me that some girls do not feel empathy for strangers.

[GQBlues]

...I shutter to think this guy is typical MOB-type. Do you really think he's typical? I find myself acutely aware of the evil that lurks no matter where I find myself

Let me be presumptious and say, IMO, you hardly qualify as a typical MOBer I classify.
 
Unless you tell me you'll happily agree to get snaked out for an evening of top rate wining and dining then be duped to cashout for a new Iphone by a woman who you hardly know?    How many times have you read these things happening to men in these halls alone despite caution being thrown their way? Heck, we even have a man who wants to, or filed a K-1, then sent out an affidavit of support to a woman he never MET, and more importantly, one he admits to being 'cold' and ignores him (if she in fact is real)!
 
I'll shame the devil and say I believe the *vast majority* of men involved in the MOB-at-large are clueless and hardly your usual Joe-Hot-Blood.
 
Now I realize the circumstances of the door opening and getting blitzed was unexpected, but the point of what I'll make is the fact if he was a bit *more* intuitive dealing with women, he would've dropped that feline long BEFORE that fateful moment.

[Daveman]

...
 
Now I realize the circumstances of the door opening and getting blitzed was unexpected, but the point of what I'll make is the fact if he was a bit *more* intuitive dealing with women, he would've dropped that feline long BEFORE that fateful moment.

Yep.  I cannot believe some of the notoriously goofball sh!t guys do...  and what they put up with.. goOoOoOd night...


Anyway,  I do hope justice is served, one way or another, however, we know the story.. the guy will find her, she'll bat her eyes, he'll say "it was a cultural difference", come to RWD and argue to the death she's sincere and it was a misunderstanding, and he'll buy her a matching Ipad and then file the K-1...

[calmissile]

Yep.  I cannot believe some of the notoriously goofball sh!t guys do...  and what they put up with.. goOoOoOd night...


Anyway,  I do hope justice is served, one way or another, however, we know the story.. the guy will find her, she'll bat her eyes, he'll say "it was a cultural difference", come to RWD and argue to the death she's sincere and it was a misunderstanding, and he'll buy her a matching Ipad and then file the K-1...

Actually, I think a lot of these problems would not happen if the guys come to RWD and learn the ropes BEFORE ever making a trip or signing up with a dating web site.  I have no idea how it could be done, but if there were more Google hits on sites that warn the newbies and direct them here, it might help.

[edu]

Actually, I think a lot of these problems would not happen if the guys come to RWD and learn the ropes BEFORE ever making a trip or signing up with a dating web site.  I have no idea how it could be done, but if there were more Google hits on sites that warn the newbies and direct them here, it might help.

If many guys come to RWD before going to UA, then most men would not have gone there in the first time. I wished I would have discovered this place.

[mies]

So mies, your solution is to go to the police and/or attack the agency in the media? IMHO, neither punishes the perpetrators.

Maybe it was a gang, maybe it wasn't but, IME fighting fire with fire can also produce desired results

I am not sure what the OP is trying to achieve. The "punishment" can be done in several ways. Right now, it isn't known who were the male attackers. Only the female is known.

If the OP's goal is to take revenge, and make the woman "pay for what she had done" - hiring the hit man is the cheapest and easiest way. She will be either severely beaten up/deformed or murdered. Will it teach any "lesson" to her male colleagues, if such were to be found? Highly unlikely. After all, she is just the "small coin". Women never gain importance in the criminal world of Ukraine or Russia, not since Sonka Golden Hand (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonya_Golden_Hand). Women in FSU criminal world have very low value, and are never in high esteem among male "colleagues." But then, I would probably think how exactly the OP is different from the attackers, if he is eager to pay for such action to be performed. And then, other questions appear: is he doing it for humane purposes (literally, is he paying to have the woman beaten up, raped, cut, tortured, killed) because he feels for his fellow American acquaintance, or maybe because he has personal stake in this and he is afraid that women like this one will harm his business? And as such, it isn't as much the revenge for poor Texan guy, but rather sending the message to all other possible "attackers"? and then, again, is this really happening? Is he really asking the forum "would it be OK if I pay some guys to do bad things to this woman to teach her the lesson?" Is this forum the mafia gathering? Would he ask the same question if the woman was American? Wouldn't he be afraid that someone can report him to US police for procuring such services? I am frankly speaking quite indignant that some foreigner feels he can do this sort of things in my home country. Yes, terrible thing happened, yes, they should be punished. But we have enough local criminals already, to start getting some criminal orders from foreign "businessmen." Don't you think so?

Imagine, a Russian woman comes to this forum and says "my American husband abused me physically. I can go to the court, but I'm not sure whether any action will be taken against him. If I hire a hit man, this will cost much less to me, and will teach my husband a valuable lesson." What would you feel when you hear this?

As for "fighting fire with fire" - if you want to, please use this logic in your homeland. Ukraine doesn't need a gang war. It was quite real when I was a teenager, some "people" were calling my parents and telling them detailed schedule of my and my sister's classes at school, and the route we were using to get home from school. And told my shocked parents "we believe you love your children, and if you care about them - maybe you should be more cooperative and give the company X the contract they want." It was also quite real when in school, my classmate ran into the class, bloo-ish white and shivering, locked the classroom door from inside, hid in the bookcase, and showed us not to tell anybody he's here. Then the teacher from outside started banging on the door demanding to open it, so we did. And a minute after she came in, two large guys with guns tried to force themselves into the classroom, asking everyone whether they've seen the boy. Luckily, the teacher didn't see him, so she told them, in complete honesty, that the boy hasn't come to class in the past several months, and she'd be happy to see him too, but she doesn't know his whereabouts, and that men with guns should leave or she'd call the police. So they left. And the boy was saved. They were attempting to assassinate his father, but father went into hiding, so they came after boy. Then they found the father, shot him. Didn't kill (but killed his driver and bodyguard), father was taken to the hospital, and the boy (my classmate) was staying in the hospital with him 24/7, protecting the father, also with the gun. When the assassins returned to finished what they started- the boy shot dead 2 of them and severely injured third one. The boy was "minor", but the crime was serious, so he was taken to serve the term in some kind of special colony for underage criminals.
It was also very real when my friend's father and owner of the small business had "committed suicide" in front of his wife and kids. He died from blood loss, and multiple knife injuries (more than 20), out of which several were deadly, - deadly to the point that he wouldn't be able to injure himself anymore after each single one of them. But apparently, he kept hitting himself with the knife, front, back, sides. In his apartment. While wife and children were present. The wife didn't want to press charges, kids stopped mentioning their father after this.
There were many bad stories in the country when I was growing up. Because of this - i don't want to have fire being fought with fire and the law neglected. And I don't want foreigners to be financing criminal activities in my country. 

[CDW]

Maybe she wasn't dumb, maybe she wasn't expecting that he will speak again. Maybe they thought the attacked man was already dead.

WRONG AGAIN!  Still dumb because she did not make sure he is dead! 

[noelscot]

On Friday late night, I started receiving emails from one of my client's parents. The guy is from Texas, 35 years old, and a genuinely nice guy, but not the strongest character type in the world. Actually, he is as soft as melted ice cream. So, his parents began worrying about him because he hadn't even been online, and he is in constant communication with his parents.

He had been here last October, and I tried to help him then, but he insisted on going through Anastasia website. He had even bought a book to help him understand the culture and what to do here and what not to do here, but was still put together for a $325 dinner. You know the drill, led to the back room, given the best possible service, the girl ordering for him without ever showing him the menu, expensive wine or alcohol, etc. He just sat by as all of this happened.

This time, I tried to help him find a flat while he had decided he was going to stay here in Odessa until August. We couldn't find him a flat he liked for the price he wanted this time, so he decided to get a cheap place for a week and then to start looking for a longer term apartment during that time. That was the last time I heard from him and that was last Sunday. So, he went on a couple of dates, and had a translator helping him, but honestly, now that I have met her and spent time with her, I can tell you, she is as dumb as a box of rocks.

Back to the story. His parents were worrying, so, I took off of work early on Saturday so me and a friend of mine who has lived here for 6 years and speaks fluently could try to find him. We were going to go to his apartment, and knew the address, but not the actual apartment number. So, about 230 in the afternoon I receive a call from an American guy from New York that I had met the same time as this guy. That New Yorker has been here about 25 times, so he is pretty well versed in the ways of the world here in Ukraine.

The translator had gone to this guy's flat, and he had answered the door, and had been badly beaten, blood was everywhere, robbed, and so she called her mother because her mother is a doctor. So, mom started treating his wounds and thought it would be a good idea to call the cops. That is when I received the call.

I got there with my translator, a wonderfully, generous old-fashioned matchmaker who only wants to help people. The police were determined to take this poor guy to the police station for questions. This guy had been beaten within an inch of his life, and had been lying on his floor in his flat for almost three days with no food and no water, unconscious - The beautiful Ukrainian police were determined to take him to the police station for more questions. When I got there, I could see that he needed medical attention, and I insisted that we take him to the hospital first, and that the police can ask him any questions that they want at the hospital. You would think that is normal, right??? Not here.

The police had no regard for this guy's health or safety, but instead wanted to take him to the station in order to fleece him - or his parents, or someone in America who would definitely send money - of course.

So, it took my wonderful matchmaker an hour to convince the police to let us take him to the hospital. We took him to the hospital and he has numerous concussions, and two broken ribs, and was obviously not very coherent nor could he answer many of my questions.

The New Yorker called the embassy and consulate, said he had arranged for someone to come to take care of everything, but this is the third day and we still haven't heard from anyone. I told him to give the consulate my number and told him what hospital we were going to.

So, here is the story of what happened. He was on his third date with a girl from Anastasia, and her English wasn't that great, but they were without a translator. And, his personal translator had to go to University and study for exams, so she wasn't there either. The translator had told this guy that she didn't like this girl, so she didn't even keep the girl's cell phone number. I think that is why the guy was with this girl from Anastasia without his translator, as he knew she didn't like this girl.

The girl walked with him back to his flat, and of course, he is gentle, non-confrontational, and thinking maybe he was going to get lucky. She made up some story about needing to give her mobile phone to her sister, and that her sister was going to pick it up from her, and she asked this guy if he'd buy her a cell phone. He agreed because he is an agreeable guy.

So, she was on the phone, walked to the front door, and told him to come to the front door. As she opened the door, she moved out of the way, and he never saw it coming. He was hit in the right temple with a huge mallet. His head blew up as he flew backward and too his left (I could tell all of this from the blood. The blood really does tell a story.) He was in a short (about 5 foot) doorway or hallway between the front door and the main room. He reached for the second set of doors, got hit again and a third time as he went through this doorway. The back of his head hit the wall and left a big mark where the back of his head hit the wall. Then, he fell to the ground and was repeatedly kicked and beaten until he lay motionless. There was spatter on the wall going away from the door indicating that he'd been kicked perfectly, and blood spattered from his mouth or head up that second wall. There was pooling in two places on the floor where he had lay motionless and unconscious for more than two days. There was also blood across the room on the sofa as well where he had tried to crawl to get away, but he had ended up back near the doorway.

The girl and probably two or three guys left in a hurry because they left the mallet, and she left her belt for her coat, a big wide, black belt. I think this might have been the first time she has been involved in this type of thing.

So, the guy has been in the hospital for two days, and he will be staying with me until his mother comes from America to stay with him. He cannot travel for a minimum of three weeks as the lesions in his head need time to heal from the head trauma, numerous concussions, and broken ribs.

However, here is the interesting part. I have an Anastasia account and I have already printed all pictures of girls by this specific name in Odessa, and the guy and his translator have identified the girl. That was the easy part. The question becomes, what is next? I have both Ukrainian and American friends outraged, and know people who can handle this in the Ukrainian way.

Of course, the American way would be to inform the police. The Ukrainian police would pick her up, but then, she would just use the money that she received from the robbery to pay the judge and she would get off scott free. What about the guys who participated. If we wanted her prosecuted, we'd have to pay more than the judge received from her to get her prosecuted, but I can call up the guys to handle this for less than we would have to pay the judge and prosecutor.

If you do it the old-fashioned way, then she and the guys are punished and will definitely not do anything like this again. They would be able to suffer the consequences of their actions, which is usually the only way a person learns their lesson.

Another option is that I could put this on Ukrainian television as I have a television reporter from the Kiev 1 + 1 Televisions station who was looking to interview me, and create a scandalous story about Ukrainian girls who deceive foreign men. I refused the interview about three months ago in fact.

What did they steal? The stole about $900 in cash, a laptop, an ipad, an iphone, and that is it.

Given the circumstances, and knowing people from all sides, what would you do in this situation? I am enraged as this guy was definitely low hanging fruit. I have been here for 4 years and have never had an issue like this, but I did take care of another guy who was beaten and robbed last June. I took him into my flat and fed him and nursed him back to health until he could receive money from back home and return to America.

Again, given all of the factors, do you take care of this girl the old-school way? Or, what other choices are there here in your mind.

Let me guess, he was writing many and visiting many women he didn't know anything about. Anytime you end up in Odessa you've taken one hell of a wrong turn in the FSU. There are a million places better than Odessa to find sincere women. I'd go to Turkmenistan before going to Odessa.
 
It's commendable that you went beyond your duty to your client and are concerned about his well-being. He's lucky to have you in his corner.
 
I would contact an advokat for a consultation, then see what the legal options are.
 
Absolutely under no circumstances would I pursue illegal methods of getting justice. And if I did, I would not even HINT at it on the internet!
 
You really don't have a dog in the fight. This guy is not your family. I mean, is he worth going to jail over?
 
Say his memory is fuzzy, and revenge gets taken out on the wrong woman....
 
I would help the guy convalesce, help him file a report with the police and the U.S. Embassy, and make sure he got back to America in one piece.
 
Definitely wouldn't start running around like Charles Bronson in Ukraine for some random guy who is not family.
 
 
 
   

[Gator]

 
I'll shame the devil and say I believe the *vast majority* of men involved in the MOB-at-large are clueless and hardly your usual Joe-Hot-Blood.
 

I humbly disagree based on having met a few AM on the FSU trails. 
 
I am not saying most AM are sophisticated and worldly, yet not many seem to be in the Dumb and Dumber category.  The men vary all over the place and I would have trouble characterizing them other than most seemed professional, divorced, horny and 10-15 years older than the women they were chasing. 
 
For every oddball story at RWD, there seem to be a multitude of normal stories. 

[Gator]

Returning to the OP's question about "What to Do,"  for many reasons I hesitate to recommend vigilante justice.

[JayH]

Again, given all of the factors, do you take care of this girl the old-school way? Or, what other choices are there here in your mind.

1/ Report it to the Police and give them as much information as you can.
    a/  in time it may be necessary to incentivive Police and system to get real action.
2/ Contact Ukraine media contacts-- they will pick up on story as it is news there and topical.If you have contacts in media--use them. Publicity will create action from the system itself.
3/ US media will pick up in Ukraine story of 'bashed" American-- follow up angle will be lack of action by Ukraine authorities. This will also get the attention of US Embassy to take an interest that may create action.
4/ Start making your own arrangements-- the girl will lead to the associates who perpetrated the attack. In due course-- to get any action--or take any action-- you need to identify the perpetrators.
5/ Get a lawyer involved-- like everywhere-- it needs to be the right type of lawyer.He can be a conduit to Police action and will know who needs "encouragement and who to speak to.
As well as criminal issues--he can start civil proceedings to recover property-- and get damages for injuries. The right lawyer-- can help with many issues and will have good contacts.
6/ Given all of the above-- make your own private arrangements-- using all of the above for information. The Police can deal pretty harshly in first instance if they are motivated-- and also have potential to make private arrangements.Whatever is done in these categories needs to be well and truly at arms length and with people that can be trusted not to be setting you up( or whoever).
7/ Be patient-- information is king in the first instance. Find out who is who using the system .Everything else can wait.The original post here shows that a lot of all this is not natural to you and it means you should be very careful in who you trust(or believe) on any process now.

[cobra]

To the OP I can't tell if you Ukrainian or USA born.  Anyways since you have a business it appears in Odessa you should have good connections to someone who can work with the police.  They left the mallet so all you need to do is pay money to have the finger prints processed. 

That being said who knows if the criminal ever had finger prints registered.  Easier way is to track down this woman and give the police some incentive money.  Were not talking a lot of money either.  Get her to talk but she may just take the fall.

The media is not going to get involved in this unless the victim is seriously hurt.  35 year old man from USA seeking wife in Ukraine is not going to get much attention unless this 35 year old man is famous in USA or got hurt seriously.

If this man wants to meet future RW in Ukraine probably best to not do anything.  If these criminals get prosecuted they may have friends who will cause future problems next time this man comes to Ukraine. 

Unfortunate things like this happen to USA foreign travellers everyday.  The USA embassy will help in getting right medical treatment and get him out of country and tell him never to come back to Ukraine. They will not do much more. 

[jone]

Maybe it's my generation, but I would prefer Jason Strahan to Charles Bronson.  (After all, isn't he dead?)

While this situation is indeed unfortunate, the most important thing is to get your acquaintance well and get him on a plane home where he can truly heal.  Unless he is 'itching' for justice, this is not the worst thing that has happened to an American tourist abroad and taking precipitous action only elongates a sad episode in this man's life. 

I have learned that most of the men on this site are the kinda guys I would like to sit at a bar and have a beer with.   If it were up to us, we would go out and prove justice on this young tramp and her accomplices.  But we are not him. 

The first few times I went over to Ukraine or Russia, I always operated under the rabbit rule.  It is better to think like a rabbit than like a fox.  Because as a rabbit, everyone is chasing you.  But as a fox, you think you own the woods.  Obviously the guy did not have his radar up and now it is time for him to go home.

Operating overseas is not for everyone.