In Lviv, a young man was detained for damaging a menorah. What consequences does he face?

Law enforcement officials have detained an individual involved in the damage of the Hanukkah menorah in Lviv. The suspect is a 19-year-old local resident.

This information was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the National Police.

The suspect was identified by detectives from the criminal police and investigators from the Lviv District Police Department No. 1, in collaboration with the officers from the Lviv Region Criminal Analysis Department.

According to the police, the 19-year-old was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense.

There is an ongoing discussion regarding the announcement of suspicion under Article 178 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (damage to religious buildings or structures). The individual faces a fine ranging from one to four thousand tax-exempt minimum incomes of citizens, community service from 60 to 240 hours, probation supervision for up to three years, restriction of freedom for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same duration.

The police are also investigating other participants in the incident who were nearby and recorded the event on video.

Damage to the Menorah in Lviv

Recall that on January 1, law enforcement discovered a video online showing an unknown individual damaging the Hanukkah menorah in Lviv, which is located on Valova Street at the site of a synagogue's ruins.

The footage captured the offender approaching the seven-branched candlestick and cutting the power cable before fleeing the scene. The police have initiated a case due to the damage to the religious structure.