Court Fines Trolls for Eating Squirrel Carcasses at Vegan Food Stall 

On Monday, the City of London Magistrates’ Court found Deonisy Khlebnikov and Gatis Lagzdins guilty of using disorderly behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. On March 30, the men stood outside of the Soho Vegan Food Market in London and consumed dead, uncooked squirrels with the intent to torment passersby. “Deonisy Khlebnikov and Gatis Lagzdins claimed they were against veganism and were raising awareness about the dangers of not eating meat when they publicly consumed raw squirrels,” Natalie Clines, senior prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in London South, said. “But by choosing to do this outside a vegan food stall and continuing with their disgusting and unnecessary behavior despite requests to stop, including from a parent whose child was upset by their actions, the prosecution was able to demonstrate that they had planned and intended to cause distress to the public.Their premeditated actions caused significant distress to members of the public, including young children.” Khlebnikov was fined £200 ($283) plus costs and fees, and Lagzdins (who failed to appear in court) was fined £400 ($498) plus costs and fees for their crimes.