Child in a cage: Viral video sparks police search in Russia

In present times, keeping animals in cages raises objections. Much is said about the need for freedom, respect, and dignified treatment. People behind bars - just the thought of it causes anxiety. We imagine that prison is not one of the most pleasant places, yet it is still a building that must meet certain standards. People in cages, on the other hand, are associated with the complete deprivation of freedom: slavery, freak shows, or human trafficking.

So, can it be considered normal that two people were seen on the street in the city of Orenburg in western Russia holding a young child in a small cage?

A video showing a man, a woman, and a small child went viral on the internet. The man was pulling a suitcase on wheels, and the woman... a cage, inside which sat a little girl. The "playpen" also had wheels but looked like an ordinary industrial cage, tight and small. The child could not sit upright; she crouched and hunched, tucking her legs under her. A small dog trotted right behind the (probably) family.

A random witness recorded the video, which quickly spread across the internet, initially proliferating on Telegram - one of the popular online messengers. The video swiftly went viral on X. The police were notified and are actively searching for the family. Nothing else is known at this time.