Authorities in the Primorsky Territory have opened a criminal case over vandalism directed at a monument commemorating those who died in the Great Patriotic War. The disclosure came in 2019 from the regional Ministry of Internal Affairs’ press service via a telegraph channel. The notice reported that in the village center of Smolyaninovo, an unidentified individual defaced the monument dedicated to compatriots who served or fell in the conflict.
Law enforcement officials stated that the scene was secured, the monument was examined, and potential witnesses were questioned as part of the initial investigation. The case has been filed under Part 1 of Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which covers vandalism and acts intended to desecrate or damage cultural or historical memorials. The investigation team is pursuing all available leads to establish the exact circumstances of the incident and to identify the person or persons responsible.
At this stage, a 28-year-old local resident has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the act. The individual has a prior record and is currently on a search list. According to the detainee, insulting inscriptions were made with hooligan motives, casting doubt on the intent and whether any political or ideological message underpinned the vandalism.
Earlier reports indicated that other monuments, including those to Soviet general and Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Vatutin and to Hero of the Defense of Polotsk Alexei Zygin, had also been subjected to vandalism in different locations, including Poltava, Ukraine. Investigators note that such acts target symbols of national memory and regional history, prompting heightened concern among local communities and veterans’ organizations. The authorities emphasize the importance of protecting war memorials as public monuments that honor sacrifice, courage, and collective memory. The continuation of the probe will focus on confirming the chronology of the vandalism, assessing any potential accomplices, and determining the appropriate charges based on evidence collected through interviews, forensic analysis, and municipal records. The public is reminded to report suspicious activity to law enforcement to prevent similar crimes and to support the broader effort to preserve historical monuments for future generations.