Russian Jewish cemetery vandalized

MOSCOW, April 24 (JTA) — Vandals have desecrated 10 headstones at a Jewish cemetery in Rybinsk, a city of 250,000 located northeast of Moscow. Each of the desecrated headstones was daubed with a swastika, a skull and crossbones and the word “Jude,” German for “Jew.” It was unclear when the act of vandalism occurred because there are few visitors to the cemetery in winter, when the graves are covered by snow. The desecrated graves were discovered after a recent thaw. The Russian Jewish community called on local authorities and the federal public prosecutor to investigate the case. Rybinsk is located in the Yaroslavl region, whose governor voiced his commitment to counter anti-Semitism after last April’s bombing of the Jewish community center in the city of Yaroslavl. The person responsible for the bombing, which caused no injuries but seriously damaged the center, was apprehended shortly after the governor took control of the investigation. He was sentenced to three years in prison earlier this year.