President of Taekwondo Federation in Russia suspected of sexually assaulting a child

Georgy Puchko allegedly committed sexual acts on a child born in 2005.

The president of the Odintsovo Taekwondo Federation has been detained by Moscow police on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

According to the investigation, Georgy Puchko abused the child for a two-year period between January 2017 and February 2019. The investigative committee of the Moscow region revealed that a criminal case was initiated under paragraph “b” of Part 4 of Art. 132 of the Criminal Code under “violent acts of a sexual nature.” If found guilty, Puchko could face between 15-20 years in prison.

Puchko, 40, allegedly abused the 13-year-old in Odintsovo, a city near the Western suburb of Moscow and one of the wealthiest municipalities in Russia. The investigation will also attempt to uncover whether Puchko committed any other crimes of a sexual nature on minors.

Puchko’s alleged sex crimes are not the only example of martial arts coaches taking advantage of underage students. Earlier this month, BJJ blackbelt Nicollas Welker Araujo was arrested in Los Angeles County, California for allegedly raping against a person who is incapable of giving consent because of developmental or physical disability. He is also suspected of “lewd or lascivious acts” with a child under 14.