A memorial to Russian warriors fallen during the 16th century Siege of Kazan has been vandalized in Tatarstan's capital.
Officials said on December 16 that the inscription saying "1552 -- Nobody and Nothing Is Forgotten" appeared on December 15 on the walls of the memorial -- an Orthdox church by the Kazanka River.
A vandalism investigation has been launched.
In 1552, Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible conquered the Khanate of Kazan. The majority of the Khanate's Muslim population was killed after the siege or forcibly Christianized afterwards.
Attacks against Orthodox Churches are very rare in Russia's Tatarstan, where mostly Muslim Tatars make some 53 percent of the population of some 4 million.
However, last year, four Orthodox churches in Tatarstan were damaged in arson attacks.
Based on reporting by mk.ru and Interfax