Ongoing investigation of 20 instances of disrespect towards memorials honoring Soviet soldiers in Europe, as reported by Bastrykin.
Rewritten Article:
The Russian Investigative Committee (IC) is delving into 20 active investigations regarding the disrespectful treatment of memorials honoring Soviet soldiers in various European nations. This news was shared by Committee head, Alexander Bastrykin, in a recent interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
According to Bastrykin, desecration of graves of Red Army soldiers has been traced in not fewer than 15 countries. Notably, these disturbing instances have been detected in countries like Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova. Intriguingly, a similar incident was uncovered within Russia itself, with a mass grave in the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region being desecrated.
On May 3rd, the Investigative Committee formally opened a case concerning the violation of a memorial to Soviet soldiers in Bulgaria.
While the exact number of countries involved in these incidents remains unspecified, it's worth mentioning that over 250 individuals from Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine have faced criminal charges in absentia due to their role in such desecrations (as of May 2025). Moreover, the Committee has collated 21 criminal cases pertaining to the vandalism or damage of military memorials, although the breakdown of these cases in terms of specific countries beyond the three mentioned is not provided.
The overwhelming number of cases in countries like Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine suggests a concerning trend of disrespect towards the memory of Soviet soldiers across Europe. This coincides with reports claiming that these nations have the highest number of criminal charges, though a comprehensive list of countries involved is not yet available.
- In a previously opened case in Russia's Sudzhansky district, a grave of a Red Army soldier was desecrated, indicating the global issue of desecration of Soviet soldier memorials is not exclusive to European nations.
- General news outlets have reported on the ongoing investigation by the Russian Investigative Committee into 20 active cases involving the desecration of memorials for Soviet soldiers across Europe and Europe's war-and-conflicts section has been abuzz with the topic.
- The fact that over 250 individuals from Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine have faced criminal charges in absentia due to their role in such desecrations highlights the severity of the crime-and-justice issue in these particular nations.
- Politics may play a role in the desecration of graves of Red Army soldiers, as many incidents have been reported in countries with a history of conflict with the Soviet Union, although further investigation is needed to confirm this theory.
