Criminal case against Kurapaty vandals closed
- 12.01.2009, 11:31
Criminal prosecution of two young people, detained in Kurapaty at night November 1, 2008, suspected in ruining memorial crosses, has been stopped.
BelaPAN learnt it from Alena Hilchuk, investigator of the Baraulyany division of the militia department of Minsk.
Ihar Baradach, heading investigation in the Baraulyany division of the militia department of Minsk, noted “proofs that were gathered during the investigation are not enough to transfer the case to a court and bring two minor Minsk dwellers, a schoolboy and a college student, to criminal responsibility.”
I. Baradach said investigation of a criminal case of ruining memorial crosses in Kurapaty is in process. According to him, measures will be taken against people, responsible for this offence.
On November 11, 2008, the Baraulyany division instigated a criminal case under article 346, part 2 of the Criminal Code (desecration of historical and cultural property), providing a fine, arrest up to 6 months, or restraint of liberty up to three years, or imprisonment up to three years.
It should be reminded that democratic activist of Minsk Alyaksandr Makau and Aleh Svirydau detained two young men in Kurapaty at 10.00 p.m. November 1. The drunken guys were breaking memorial crosses on the alley leading from the Martyrs’ Cross to the hill with a memorial stone in memory of Stalin’s victims. One of the detained phoned to his parents and said his father would show his identity card and release the guys.
Some minutes after the call, parents of the young man appeared, but father didn’t show anything in Kurapaty and in the Baraulyany division of the militia department of Minsk, where they were guarded together with the detained.
In 1993, Kurapaty was put on the State List of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Belarus as a monument of international importance “Place of killing of victims of political repressions of1930-40ies in Kurapaty). It is the third time for the last three when a criminal case for vandalism in Kurapaty has been instigated. The first one was instigated by the Minsk militia department in December 2005, under article 341 of the Criminal Code (desecration and waste), the second one – in March 2008 under article 339, part 1 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism). Criminals weren’t found and punished in the both cases. So, it was the first time when vandals have been caught, moreover they were detained by public activists, because the authorities refused to protect the memorial.