In brief
A Soviet war cemetery in the Dutch province of Utrecht was defaced with red and black graffiti again this year, police said Monday. The vandalism repeats a July assault that damaged about 150 graves, and the foundation is working to repair the memorial while authorities try to find the culprits.
A Soviet war cemetery near Leusden in the Dutch province of Utrecht was vandalized again this year when red and black graffiti appeared on the memorial complex, according to a local TV broadcaster as reported by TASS on July 17, 2014. Police have opened an investigation and forensic experts are working on the site.
The memorial, part of the Ereveld complex, honors heroes of the Great Patriotic War and has previously suffered vandalism.
According to TV broadcaster RTV Utrecht, the new assault marks the second defacement of the site in the past year.
The earlier incident on July 10 was reported by the Netherlands War Graves Foundation, which said that around 150 graves had been defaced with red graffiti and that it immediately notified police and began repairs.
Remco Reiding, director of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation, told reporters that “this is tragic and sad. We are consulting with the authorities handling the case. We hope a solution will be found to prevent this from happening again.”
Experts are repairing the damage and the foundation is working closely with local authorities to restore the site as quickly as possible.
