Three teenagers from the Stavropol region in southwestern Russia have been detained after they filmed themselves burning the Bible on a charcoal grill.
The local Investigative Committee has charged the teens with criminal offenses, accusing them of insulting the religious sentiments of believers.
The incident involved the burning of the New Testament and was captured on video and shared on social media, leading investigators to describe the act as motivated by religious hatred.
Stavropol's Governor, Vladimir Vladimirov, released a video on Friday in which the teenagers apologized to "all believers" for their actions.
"Apologizing is important, but words cannot undo what has happened. These young men have not only jeopardized their own futures but also affected the lives of their families," Vladimirov stated.
The charges against the teenagers include hooliganism and "public actions that insult the feelings of believers." They now face up to three years in prison if convicted.
