Biti assault victim Tatiana Aleshina narrates ordeal in court

HARARE – Russian businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina claimed to a Harare magistrate on Friday that she was in fear when opposition lawmaker Tendai Biti stormed towards her while yelling unprintable remarks.

Aleshina started to cry as she described the incident which took place at a courtyard in November 2020, to prosecutor Michael Reza in her testimony.

The influential business magnate claimed that she had never before felt such intimidation.

“When we were already in the court corridor, l suddenly heard big noise and shouting behind my back, to say Tatiana you’re stupid, stupid, stupid.

“I immediately stopped in shock and l turned l saw a huge giant person, Tendai Biti with a crowd of people charging towards me. I did not understand what was going on as l had never seen him personally. I never knew who he was,” Aleshina told court.

Biti is said to have become more belligerent, shouting and pointing his right forefinger at her face.

According to the narration, he began shouting even when someone attempted to calm him down as his body was trembling and he was acting hostile.

“My colleague Michael van Blerk then stood in front of me, someone said it’s not right, it’s dangerous here and let us go. He was aggressive and l felt like he would physically attack me.

“I am a mother of five kids and a foreigner in this country l never experienced this in my life. l thought l was in danger and left.

“I felt he would kill me just now, l felt shaking and humiliated. l felt he is violating my woman’s rights, he was showing the men’s power on me,” she said to the judge.

It is said Aleshina then made the decision to report to the Russian embassy who then assisted in the matter.

“They helped me to calm down, and we were able to contact my attorneys, who then accompanied me as I reported the incident to the police,” she revealed.

Biti contests the accusation.

The trial was held after protracted arguments, during which his lawyer Alec Muchadehama insisted that the case be referred to the Constitutional Court.

He argued that his client’s rights were being infringed and the magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro had displayed bias on the matter.

Muchuchuti-Guwuriro rejected Biti’s prior requests for her recusal, claiming that they were made in an effort to stall the trial.

The magistrate rescheduled the case for trial continuation on Thursday this week.