Russia has a system of registration and residence permits, and, by law, everyone living in a house or flat must be registered to live there with the local authorities. Permits are either temporary or permanent, with the latter stamp placed in citizens' compulsory internal passports.
During a quarrel with his ex-wife, who was staying in his flat, the man tore out the page showing her right to live there and ate it, the spokesperson said.
The incident occurred in the presence of police officers who were attempting to resolve a 'domestic housing row' between the former couple and the man's new common-law wife.
Besides the charge of "destroying official documents," the man has been charged with "assault," and "threatening behavior," and faces up to one year in prison.
