A man, suspected of shooting a Russia Today TV channel journalist in the foot, has confessed his guilt, a Moscow police spokesman said on Monday.

Natalya Arkhiptseva was shot with a rubber bullet on October 9 by a 35-year-old Russian man in the capital's Prado Cafe. She said he opened fire after she objected to being sworn at by him and his friends as she walked passed their table.

"It wasn't an accident; he pointed his gun at me and shot," Arkhiptseva said, adding that the cafe's security guards did not try to help her, or show any reaction to the incident.

The suspect, Sergei Virolaynen, is the chief executive of a St. Petersburg company that specializes in plumbing equipment.

"After being detained and taken to a police station, Virolaynen confessed to the crime," Viktor Biryukov said.

The suspect has been released on a pledge not to leave the city. He has been charged with hooliganism which carries a maximum sentence of five years behind bars.

MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti)