The Interior Ministry’s press service reported the detention of “participants and the leader of a group of adherents of anarchist views,” among whom was an alleged supporter of “military jihad.” The operation was carried out with the support of special forces units “Rys” and “Tornado”.
“Four Minsk residents aged between 20 and 28 repeatedly, on the territory of the Minsk – Hero City architectural and sculptural complex, acting with exceptional cynicism, committed acts of desecration against symbols of Victory and the victims of the Great Patriotic War. The suspects used obscene language towards veterans, spat on the monument, and accompanied their actions with unacceptable comments, thereby denying the genocide of the Belarusian people and the feats of heroes,” said Uladzimir Harahliad, a representative of the Interior Ministry’s GUBOPiK unit, outlining the law enforcement version of events.
According to him, the detainees recorded everything on video and published the footage on social media.
He also added that they are “anarchists and active participants of the subcultural youth group ‘antifa’.” He claimed that one of them was a “supporter of ‘military jihad’,” and that bladed weapons, clothing and items with anarchist and Nazi symbols, a signal pistol, and computer equipment were seized at their places of residence.
A criminal case has been opened on charges of aggravated hooliganism.
