/new/ - New

On the evening of 2 May 2024, three young men in Novoalexandrovsk (Russia) destroyed the New Testament and threw the holy Christian scripture into a brazier. The burning was accompanied by hysterical laughter and shouts of "God is ashamed!". The guys filmed the hooliganism and spread it in one of the messengers.

Russian law enforcement authorities quickly reacted to the video. The next day the young men were detained and taken into custody.

The accused, two born in 2003 (20-21 years old) and one born in 2007 (16-17 years old), admitted guilt, repented and apologised for their actions. The boys promised that they would never do it again. The punishment could not be avoided after that.

The Bible arsonists were prosecuted under the articles ‘Insulting the religious feelings of believers’ (a fine of up to ₽300,000 or up to a year) and ‘Hooliganism’ (a fine of up to ₽500,000 or up to seven years).

The investigation was completed and the materials were submitted to the court for consideration. The sentence was passed on 5 September 2024.

‘By the court's verdict two adult young men were sentenced to two years to two years two months of imprisonment with serving time in a penal colony of general regime, a minor - one year 10 months of imprisonment conditionally’, - reported in the Investigative Committee of the Stavropol Territory.