Survivor of Acid Attack Shares Her Journey of Resilience and Hope

In April 2024, 32-year-old Andrey Suleymanov assaulted Anastasia with acid on a street in Monino, a suburb of Moscow. Since then, the single mother has undergone five surgeries but lacks funds for further treatment.

Known as a quiet university lecturer, Suleymanov’s true nature shocked his community when he doused two young women with acid on April 10. Video surveillance quickly led to his arrest, where he admitted guilt during interrogation.

Among the victims was 16-year-old Tatiana (name changed), who suffered burns on her legs with clothing destroyed. However, Anastasia endured the most severe injuries when the corrosive liquid struck her face, severely damaging her eyes.

On that fateful day, Anastasia was taking a walk near her home. Suleymanov hesitated before fleeing, frequently glancing back to see her reaction. Passersby came to her aid and called emergency services, but the damage was extensive.

"I had emergency eye surgeries – three of them. My face and eyes were covered with blisters, and my skin turned black and blue. Doctors had to remove my eyebrows, eyelids, and nerve endings. They were very concerned," Anastasia shared in an interview.

"Two more operations involved skin grafts for my eyelids. My right eye suffered the most, retaining only 30% vision. Sometimes I look out the window but can’t see nearby trees," she added.

Additional surgeries are planned to reconstruct her nearly absent eyelids. Anastasia endures intense eye pain; even a tiny speck causes extreme discomfort. Sleep is elusive, often interrupted by sharp stinging sensations described as feeling like “glass shards.”

She needs another skin transplant to enable her upper eyelids to close properly and to synchronize their movement for a symmetrical appearance.

"I sleep longer now, trying to trick my eyes by hiding my pupils behind my eyelids. I fall asleep with my eyes open. My 11-year-old son has grown accustomed to my appearance, but when he first saw me, he didn’t recognize me," Anastasia said.

A single mother raising her son while managing a mortgage, Anastasia used to teach English but can no longer work due to her health. With no funds left for surgeries, she launched a fundraiser seeking approximately $65,000 USD to cover immediate medical needs. Doctors aim to rebuild her face piece by piece, though full recovery is impossible.

The injury’s effects are permanent: complete vision restoration is unlikely, and future complications such as cataracts, glaucoma, and elevated intraocular pressure are possible. Once admired and loved, Anastasia now finds solace in small victories like reduced eye irritation.

Beyond her health concerns, Anastasia fears that Suleymanov might be released soon. Declared mentally unfit, he is likely to be confined to psychiatric care instead of prison. He apologized to Anastasia and promised compensation but claims no memory of the attack, alleging that a colleague may have drugged him before the incident.

"According to case files and evaluations, he harbors no hatred towards women. He has psychiatric diagnoses and is simply a dangerous individual," Anastasia explained.

Suleymanov resides in the same neighborhood as Anastasia, raising concerns about potential future encounters. He faces charges of hooliganism and intentional minor bodily harm and is awaiting trial.

Photos: social media, wnfund.ru, Investigative Committee of Moscow Region

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