Rostov Neo-Nazi Sentenced for Vandalizing Armenian Church
Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, DC
Dec 22 2006
(December 22, 2006)
A 23-year old neo-Nazi has been sentenced to six months in prison
for vandalizing an Armenian church, according to a December 20,
2006 report in the local newspaper "Gazeta Dona." The defendant,
identified in the report only by his last name Mishchenko, has a long
criminal record and admitted his membership in a skinhead gang. The
court found that on July 31, 2006 he entered the Surb-Khach museum
of Armenian culture, which includes an Armenian Apostolic church,
and set a fire. He also painted racist graffiti. Within two weeks
he was arrested and charged with vandalism. It appears that no hate
crime charges were brought against the defendant.
Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, DC
Dec 22 2006
(December 22, 2006)
A 23-year old neo-Nazi has been sentenced to six months in prison
for vandalizing an Armenian church, according to a December 20,
2006 report in the local newspaper "Gazeta Dona." The defendant,
identified in the report only by his last name Mishchenko, has a long
criminal record and admitted his membership in a skinhead gang. The
court found that on July 31, 2006 he entered the Surb-Khach museum
of Armenian culture, which includes an Armenian Apostolic church,
and set a fire. He also painted racist graffiti. Within two weeks
he was arrested and charged with vandalism. It appears that no hate
crime charges were brought against the defendant.