A 20-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime in connection with the March 18, 2007 vandalization of a Shul in Voronezh [as reported HERE on YW]. The suspect, whom prosecutors described as having past connections to for far-right hate groups, was charged with vandalism and an act aimed at inciting inter-ethnic or inter-religious hatred. He reportedly asserted under interrogation that he painted a swastika on the synagogue while under the influence of alcohol.�

Most cases of vandalism directed against minority religious sites or cemeteries are prosecuted in Russia under vandalism or “hooliganism” statutes, making the hate crimes charge in this case a relatively rare incident of prosecutors using the full extent of the law.