In Vitebsk, young individuals were detained after photographs surfaced showing them wearing shirts emblazoned with Adolf Hitler and giving Nazi salutes. The incident, first reported by Sputnik Belarus, prompted swift action from local authorities as the images circulated online and drew public condemnation. The detentions followed an official inquiry that traced the origin of the provocative apparel to online sellers and highlighted a disturbing trend of wishing to shock spectators with extremist symbols. The authorities stated that the two boys identified in the photos faced criminal proceedings for publicly displaying and distributing Nazi symbols, while investigators pursued the case against the photographer who published the images on a social media page. A subsequent search of a suspect’s residence led to the seizure of four additional shirts bearing similar imagery. The investigation continues, and the youths involved are under formal scrutiny as part of the criminal process. The case underscores the seriousness with which authorities in the region treat the dissemination of extremist content and the participation of minors in such acts. [Source: Sputnik Belarus]
In another incident reported around the same time, footage circulated showing a group of Muscovites performing a striptease during a Nazi march in Saint Petersburg. The participants were detained by law enforcement following the release of the video, illustrating a broader crackdown on extremist demonstrations. This event mirrors the concerns raised by the Belarus case, where symbols associated with Nazism were used in public displays and quickly escalated to legal action. [Source: Sputnik Belarus]
Additionally, a separate arrest involving a 17-year-old in Saint Petersburg drew attention after he raised his right hand in a gesture linked to extremist symbolism at a memorial site dedicated to Bergholz. The incident prompted official responses and a review of the youth’s conduct within the context of postwar remembrance and the protection of public spaces from extremist acts. The authorities indicated that investigations would examine the motives behind such actions and consider how to prevent similar occurrences among minors in the future. [Source: Sputnik Belarus]