The Main Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation in destruction, damage or desecration of sculptural and architectural constructions dedicated to battle against fascism and victims of fascism, graves of those who fought fascism and desecration of the Russia’s battle glory symbols committed publicly in Ukraine. The case was opened in crimes under part 2 of article 244 of the RF Penal Code (outrage upon bodies and graves) and part 3 of article 354.1 (rehabilitation of nazism).
Investigators have revealed certain facts suggesting that monuments dedicated to the battle of Soviet soldiers against fascism were destroyed and desecrated in Ukraine in 2014. The monument to 32 soldiers killed during the Great Patriotic War was destroyed on 6 January 2014 in the town of Glinany, Zolochev District, Lvov Region; a monument to the killed sailors and ships of the Black Sea steamship fleet was damaged on 10 February, in the town of Odessa, a monument to the Soviet soldier liberator was taken down on 22 February in the town of Stary, Lvov Region, a memorial to Holocaust victims was desecrated on 18 March and 5 May in the town of Novomoskovsk, Dnepropetrovsk Region, a monument to soldiers killed in the Great Patriotic War was destroyed on 9 April in the town of Sukhoy Liman, Odessa Region, the Menorah memorial dedicated to the Jews killed in the Second World War was desecrated on 24 September in Kiev in Babiy Yar district, a memorial plate of Hero of the USSR Pyotr Vasilevsky was crashed on 7 October in Kharkov.
Those monuments are the symbols of the war glory of Soviet soldiers who fought against fascism and as the Russian Federation is the legal successor of the USSR the said crimes are aimed against interests of Russia. Under part 3 of article 12 of the RF Penal Code foreign citizens or those without citizenship who do not live permanently in the Russian Federation and who have committed crimes outside the Russian Federation are subject to criminal liability in cases if the crime is aimed against interests of the Russian Federation.
The investigation is ongoing.
Head of Media Relations V.I. Markin
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