A tragic incident has unfolded in the village of Aktai in Russia’s Amur region, where a dispute during a drinking session ended in a fatal act of violence.

A quarrel broke out between several men while they were socializing and consuming alcohol, The Caspian Post reports via Russian media.

During the altercation, one of the participants doused his opponent with a flammable liquid and pushed him into a bonfire. The victim caught fire instantly.

Despite efforts to save him, the man suffered second- and third-degree burns covering 45 per cent of his body. He later died from his injuries.

The attacker admitted his guilt in court, claiming he had only intended to frighten the victim. However, the court found the act especially severe and sentenced him to 17 years in a maximum-security penal colony.