Two young men, aged 21 and 23, will stand trial in Minsk. Both are accused of aggravated hooliganism, while the older man is additionally charged with inciting social hatred.
According to the Minsk prosecutor’s office, the defendants are “adherents of anarchist views.”
According to the prosecution, in October 2025 and January 2026, the young men spat on the “Minsk — Hero City” obelisk, used obscene language, and made unacceptable comments and insulting remarks about veterans. The defendants recorded their actions on video and posted them on social media.
“The defendants were aware of the historical significance and cultural value of the obelisk, while through their actions they encroached on the historical memory of the Belarusian people, demonstrating an extremely disrespectful attitude towards the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland,” the prosecutor’s office said.
It was also established that in October 2022, the 23-year-old defendant posted on Instagram an “image with text whose content was aimed at inciting social hatred among people on the grounds of territorial affiliation and origin.”
The criminal case has been sent to court. The young men are in custody.
