In the town of Balashov, two local schoolchildren, ages 12 and 13, were detained on suspicion of vandalizing more than 50 tombstones at a city cemetery. The news was shared via the Saratov region’s Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on its official Telegram channel.
Officials report that on the morning of April 23, 2023, at approximately 07:30, the caretaker of the Povorinsky cemetery notified police that several tombstones had been damaged. Investigators quickly identified the two minors as persons of interest in the incident.
The youths eventually admitted their role in the vandalism, stating that the act was carried out with hooligan motives and without specific targets. Authorities say they are examining all circumstances surrounding the case, including potential influences and the sequence of events that led to the incident.
Administrative measures were taken in relation to the parents of the accused, with protocols drawn up in accordance with applicable provisions of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses. These steps underscore the authorities’ approach to addressing juvenile offending and parental responsibility in such situations.
According to a report cited by mk.ru, the vandalism involved the destruction of more than fifty tombstones, raising concerns about the extent of the damage and the need for thorough restoration work at the cemetery.
In related regional news, Primorye earlier reported a separate incident in which two young people, traveling in a car with a friend, were killed in a crash. The juxtaposition of these stories highlights the ongoing attention to youth safety and accountability across different parts of the country, as confirmed by regional law enforcement communications and local media coverage. [Source attribution: Regional law enforcement communications; mk.ru reporting]