Russian MMA Fighter Sentenced to Four Years for Assault During Barron Trump Video Call
A wealthy Russian former mixed martial arts fighter has been jailed for four years after assaulting his girlfriend while she was on a FaceTime call with Barron Trump, the youngest son of former US President Donald Trump. Matvei Rumiantsev, aged 22, was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court in north-east London for the attack, which occurred in a jealous rage at his flat in Canary Wharf.
Barron Trump's Emergency Call Saves Victim
The court heard how Barron Trump, who turned 20 recently, witnessed the assault over the video call and immediately contacted UK emergency services. During the call made at 2:23 am on January 18 last year, Barron informed a 999 operator that he could see his friend being beaten up, providing her address in London. He later explained to police that calling for help was "the best thing I could do" to prevent further violence.
Barron Trump's intervention has been credited with potentially saving the woman's life, with the victim herself stating during the trial that "he helped save my life. That call was like a sign from God at that moment." The American college student, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall, reportedly met the woman through social media before the incident occurred.
Violent Assault and Attempted Cover-Up
Prosecutors detailed how Rumiantsev became jealous of the woman's relationship with Barron Trump and flew into a rage when he tried to phone her earlier that evening. When Barron called the woman's phone, Rumiantsev answered the video call, showed Barron her face, then grabbed her hair and pushed her to the floor while shouting "You are not worth anything."
Jurors heard that Rumiantsev called the woman a "slut" and a "whore" before kicking her in the stomach while she was on the floor next to a refrigerator. The woman reported being slapped, punched, kicked, and strangled during the assault.
Following his arrest, Rumiantsev was also found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He called the victim from a police station and later wrote to her from Belmarsh prison, where he was being held on remand, pleading with her to withdraw her statement. The victim initially withdrew her statement but later retracted this, telling police that her original account was true.
Not Guilty Verdicts on Serious Charges
Despite the assault conviction, Rumiantsev was found not guilty of two counts of rape, one count of strangulation, and one count of assault by beating. The defense, led by Sasha Wass KC, described the victim's accounts of the alleged attacks as "untrue and fabricated."
The woman testified that Rumiantsev would deliberately get her so drunk that he could have sex with her without her consent, with the Russian allegedly telling her: "You never want to do this with me so I make you drink and do this to you."
Wealthy Russian Background and Education
Matvei Rumiantsev comes from a privileged background in Russia. His father, Sergey Rumyantsev, 53, is the founder of One Price Coffee, a prominent Russian business that was previously called One Bucks Coffee until Starbucks challenged the name in court. The family is described as wealthy and successful in Vladimir Putin's Russia.
Rumiantsev's father attended the prestigious Tver Suvorov Military School from age 14, an exclusive cadet institution for children of military families. Matvei's grandfather, Vitaly Rumyantsev, now 86, was a senior naval officer believed to have held the rank of captain.
Matvei Rumiantsev came to Britain to study for his GCSEs and A Levels, attending the elite Abbey College Cambridge where boarding fees reach £80,000 per year. The school is known as an academy for wealthy foreign students and a pathway to top UK universities.
Police Response and Court Proceedings
Police attended Rumiantsev's home in Poplar, east London, in the early hours of January 18, 2025, following two 999 calls from the alleged victim and one from Barron Trump. Bodycam footage from officers at the scene showed the woman telling police: "I am friends with Barron Trump, Donald Trump's son."
One officer can be heard telling a colleague: "So apparently this informant from America is likely to be Donald Trump's son." The woman was asked to call Barron back, and the American explained to officers that he could see her crying and being struck during the FaceTime call.
Trial judge Joel Bennathan told the court that Rumiantsev should expect a custodial sentence, and the probation service was instructed to provide reports. Rumiantsev was remanded in custody until his sentencing hearing on March 27, where he ultimately received the four-year prison term.
