You're reading: Russian State Duma hails Ukraine’s decision to introduce criminal punishment for desecration of monuments to Soviet warriors

Leonid Slutsky, the head of the State Duma committee on CIS affairs, Eurasian integration, and liaison with Russians abroad, has hailed the decision made by the Ukrainian parliament to introduce criminal liability for the desecration of monuments to Soviet warriors who fell during WWII. 

“This bill is aimed at protecting our common historical memories,” Slutsky told reporters on Thursday.

Slutsky said that the destruction of any monuments, especially monuments to people who fought fascism, is “vandalism and barbarity” and such actions should be condemned at the state level.

“We are deeply thankful to our Ukrainian colleagues’ decision to toughen liability for the desecration of monuments to people who fought fascism,” Slutsky said.

On Thursday the Ukrainian parliament introduced criminal liability in the form of three to five years in prison for the destruction of monuments to Soviet warriors and established a punishment for denying crimes committed by fascists.