Couple from Pittsburgh's Shadyside accused of harassing Russian neighbor

A couple from Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood faces charges of ethnic intimidation after police said the man and woman harassed two people in their neighborhood, one of them a native of Russia.

Police identified the couple as Robert Pfaffmann, 66, a prominent Pittsburgh architect, and Lisa Marie Haabestad, 64. Police said they defaced their neighbors’ property, left threatening mail and subjected the Russian man to coarse language and threats.

In addition to ethnic intimidation, Pfaffmann and Haadestad also face charges of mischief and conspiracy. Pfaffmann and Haabestad declined to comment.

UPDATE: Lisa Haabestad, 64, and Robert Pfaffmann, 66, of Pittsburgh are facing ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, and criminal conspiracy charges in connection with this incident. https://t.co/4KNbSeI88c

— Pittsburgh Police (@PghPolice) March 24, 2022

Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV spoke with one of the alleged victims, Vasily Potanin, who is reportedly the son of wealthy Russian businessman Vladimir Potanin, a billionaire who served as the first deputy prime minister of Russia in the 1990s.

Potanin told WPXI that he had been harassed because of his “conservative-leaning belief.” One of his yard signs is critical of President Joe Biden. Another has a picture of former President Donald Trump with the words, “Miss me yet?”

Potanin said the war in Ukraine has increased tension in his neighborhood.

“People assume because of my nationality, I must agree with everything Putin does,” he told WPXI. “Therefore, I must support him and I’m his spy.”

Pfaffmann is a prominent architect who designed the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh’s Hill District library and also was involved in a movement to preserve the Civic Arena. Haabestad is an associate of Pfaffmann who has worked with him on various projects.