Vandalism in an Orthodox Church

December 24, 2015. The District Court of Meleuzovsky region of the Republic of Mordovia (Russia) condemned two citizens of 20 and 19-years old respectively, for robbery and damages in a church, as the website of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Bashkortostan reports.

The court found that in April 2015, the two citizens and their minor accomplice planned to steal valuable items from the Orthodox Church in Meleuzovsky.

Having waited until the church will remain empty; the one defendant with the teenager stole jewellery from the icons.

Employees of the church tried to stop the attackers, but they managed to run out of the building, to be hidden in the car and to be driven by the other defendant.

Their illegal actions caused damage to religious items, and it is estimated more than 180 thousand rubbles.

Afterwards they went by car in Ufa, where they planned to sell the stolen jewellery, but traffic police detained them.

The defendants partially admitted guilt in committing a crime.

Given that one of them has been previously convicted of theft, the court sentenced him to five years ‘imprisonment in a penal colony, while the other to 3 years’ imprisonment with a probation period of 3 years. The criminal case against their minor accomplice will be held separately.