Two young boys admit to vandalizing over 100 graves on Saaremaa island

Two boys, aged eight and 10, are responsible for damaging more than 100 graves at Kihelkonna Cemetery on Saaremaa, an island in western Estonia, over the weekend, local newspaper Saarte Hääl reported. Because both are under 14, the case also raises the question of how minors are treated under the law.

Apology from the family

The parents of one boy posted a handwritten letter from their child in the Kihelkonna community Facebook group. In it, the boy apologizes for damaging the cemetery, says he regrets it and promises never to do it again. The boys' parents and grandparents also wrote to the community in the same group, saying they are deeply sorry that the child's actions caused irreparable damage and heartache to Kihelkonna.

The investigation

The Prosecutor's Office, which is conducting a criminal investigation, confirmed to public broadcaster ERR that two boys under 14 have been questioned over the incident and that prosecutors believe they were involved. Rein Rand, head of the investigation group at Kuressaare Police Station, said on Friday afternoon that criminal proceedings had been opened under the Penal Code section on desecration of the memory of the deceased.

Minna Raun, head of the district policing group at Kuressaare Police Station, said the prescribed punishment is a fine or imprisonment, and that the type of punishment stays the same when minors are involved. She added that vandalism on this scale is happening for the first time.

Extent of the damage

Margus Saar, who has worked as a cemetery caretaker for 21 years, told the television programme Aktuaalne kaamera that police have established that 105 graves were affected. Gravestones were pushed over and shattered, the glass of expensive granite grave lanterns was smashed, and flowers were damaged. Saar said he believes the vandalism happened on Sunday and was committed by young people, citing footprints at the site.