Over 100 graves damaged at Kihelkonna cemetery on Saaremaa by boys aged 8 and 10

More than a hundred graves were wrecked or damaged at the Kihelkonna cemetery on Saaremaa, an island in western Estonia, over the past weekend. According to the local newspaper Saarte Hääl, the vandalism was carried out by two children, boys aged 8 and 10. Police have opened a criminal case.

Apology from the children's families

The parent of one of the boys posted a handwritten letter in a Facebook group for Kihelkonna residents, in which the child asks for forgiveness. "I am sorry for wrecking the cemetery. I regret it and promise I will never do this again," Saarte Hääl quotes the boy as writing.

In the same group, the parents and grandparents of the children also addressed the local community. They wrote that they sincerely regret that their child's actions caused the Kihelkonna community irreparable damage and emotional pain.

Police investigation

Rein Rand, head of the investigation team at the Kuressaare police station, told ERR on Friday afternoon that a criminal case has been opened under the provision covering desecration of the memory of the dead.

Minna Raun, head of the territorial group at the Kuressaare police station, said the offence carries a fine or imprisonment. For minors, she said, the types of punishment remain exactly the same. She added that vandalism on this scale is happening for the first time.

Cemetery caretaker's account

Margus Saar, who has worked as the cemetery caretaker for 21 years, told the ETV (Estonian public broadcaster) programme "Aktuaalne kaamera" on Tuesday that he had never encountered such a situation. According to him, police have so far established that 105 graves were damaged. Headstones were thrown to the ground and cracked, the glass of expensive granite grave lanterns was smashed, and flowers were damaged.

Saar believes it happened on Sunday and that young people were involved. In his view, the traces left behind point to the age of the vandals.