The Russian Embassy in Armenia has stated that it is “deeply outraged” by the desecration of the Mother Armenia memorial complex in Gyumri, which is dedicated to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War.

In a statement, the embassy said it expects a clear assessment from the Armenian authorities regarding the incident.

“This sacrilegious act cannot be regarded as ordinary ‘hooliganism.’ It represents a deliberate attack against our shared historical memory and an attempt to encroach upon the legacy of the Great Victory.

We see the strong discontent expressed by the city authorities and the people of Gyumri regarding what happened. We expect a clear assessment of the incident from the Armenian authorities, as well as comprehensive measures to bring those responsible to justice and prevent similar provocations in the future,” the embassy said.

During the night of June 10, unknown individuals vandalized the Mother Armenia memorial complex in Gyumri. Golden letters bearing the names of Hero Cities, installed on the memorial grounds, were torn down and stolen. The missing letters were later found in garbage containers.