In brief
RTV Utrecht reported that the Soviet war cemetery at the Ereveld memorial complex near Leusden was vandalized again in July 2014. Police are investigating, and experts are fixing the damage. The incident follows a previous defacement earlier that month.
A Soviet war cemetery near Leusden in the Dutch province of Utrecht was defaced again with red and black graffiti, as reported by local TV broadcaster RTV Utrecht on July 17, 2014.
The vandalism hit several parts of the memorial complex that honors heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Police have opened an investigation, with officers and forensic experts working at the site.
Police Investigation and Repairs
Remco Reiding, director of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation that manages the memorial complex, said the event “is tragic and sad” and that authorities are consulting and hope to find a solution to prevent future vandalism. Expert teams are repairing the damage and restoring the site as quickly as possible.
According to the broadcaster, the cemetery had already been defaced on July 10. That earlier incident led the Netherlands War Graves Foundation to notify police and begin repairs. Remco Reiding told TASS at the time that around 150 graves had been defaced with red graffiti.
Confirmed facts from the source include the location of the cemetery, the occurrence of a second act of vandalism in July, the red and black graffiti, and the ongoing police investigation and repair work. Unconfirmed details remain: the identity of the vandals, their motive, and any possible broader pattern. These aspects are still being investigated by the authorities.
