A 15-year-old has been placed in custody on suspicion of setting fire to a historic 18th-century church under state protection.
Built entirely out of wood in Russia’s northwestern republic of Karelia in 1774, the Dormition Church of Kondopoga burned to the ground last week.
The regional branch of Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had detained the teen and assigned a psychological evaluation.
“The teenager has been placed in the Karelian Interior Ministry’s temporary detention [center] for juvenile delinquents for 30 days,” the state-run TASS news agency quoted branch spokeswoman Olga Golubenko as saying Monday.
According to the Mash Telegram channel, the alleged arsonist said he had been motivated by “a wish to attain worldwide fame.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
