LVIV – A criminal investigation into the defacement of a monument commemorating World War II victims in Huta Peniatska (Polish Huta Pieniacka) in Lviv region has been opened. The probe is looking into whether the act violates laws against racial, ethnic or religious enmity.
The case has been opened pursuant to Part 3 of Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, head of the main directorate of the Lviv regional office of the National Police of Ukraine Valeriy Sereda told Interfax-Ukraine on Jan. 10.
According to the criminal code, deliberate acts aimed on inciting hatred based on national, racial or religious enmity or hatred, demeaning national honor and dignity or insulting the feelings of citizens in connection with their religious convictions, which are committed by an organized group of people or which result in severe consequences, are punishable by law.
As reported, the vandals partially destroyed the monument erected in the village of Huta Peniatske, Brody district, Lviv region. The village was destroyed during the war and its residents – about 1,000 poles – died as a result of punitive actions taken by German forces for cooperating with Soviet partisans in February 1944.
