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Two youngsters blamed for act of cross-cutting in northern Russia

Arkhangelsk police have established that the two 17- year old local residents of the Varavono-Factoria district were responsible for the act of vandalism

MOSCOW, September 24 (Itar-Tass) — Police have detained two suspects accused of an act of cross-cutting vandalism in a monastery in Arkhangelsk, a source from the Russian Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass on Monday.

Unknown vandals cut down a cross of worship at the Arkhangelsk city daughter church belonging to the Artyomy-Verkolsky monastery. An investigative department of the Russian Interior Ministry for Arkhangelsk has opened a criminal case on charges of vandalism. The Arkhangelsk regional Interior department has brought the investigation under control.

Arkhangelsk police have established that the two 17- year old local residents of the Varavono-Factoria district were responsible for the act of vandalism. Both have been detained. Policemen have conducted numerous investigative experiments which prompted a conclusion that the youngsters were responsible for cutting down the cross of worship. Both have confessed to cutting down the cross and described their actions in detail. The investigation also has important material evidence at its disposal implicating the two youngsters in the act.

The youngsters confessed that they had started cutting down the cross on the previus night yet, but many people who saw the first cuts on the cross paid no attention and did not call police. Until August 25 people had passed by, paying no attention to the signs of cuts on the cross.

The vandals said they had cut down the cross for reasons of hooliganism only, adding they deeply repented the incident and were ready to make a public apology to believers, police said.