A/72/291 of a social, racial, ethnic, religious or linguistic group or on religious views; publicizing or publicly displaying Nazi paraphernalia or symbols, or paraphernalia or symbols that bear a confusing resemblance thereto, or publicly displaying paraphernalia or symbols of extremist organizations, as well as related acts. Such offences and crimes are classified in the law as administrative or criminal offences, depending on the degree of danger to the public. 37. The publication of materials advocating such activities or lending credibili ty to or justifying the need for such activities, including works by the leaders of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party or the Fascist Party of Italy, is prohibited by law. It is also forbidden to use Nazi symbols in any form to insult the memory of the victims of the Great Patriotic War or to publicize or publicly display the paraphernalia or symbols of organizations that collaborated with groups, organizations, movements or individuals recognized as criminals or found guilty of committing crimes in judgments of the International Military Tribunal for the prosecution and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis (Nuremberg Tribunal). 38. The Government has informed the Special Rapporteur that its legislation contains provisions making it an offence (administrative or criminal, depending on the degree of danger to the public) to disseminate information about days of military glory, or other notable dates for the Russian Federation relating to the defence of the motherland, that expresses clear disrespect for society, or to desecrate symbols of the country’s military glory in public. Under the Criminal Code, it is also an offence to destroy or damage cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian Federation that are included in the unified State register of such sites or recognized as cultural heritage sites. 39. The authorities are devoting serious attention to investigating and prosecuting those responsible for inciting hatred or enmity on racial, ethnic or religious grounds. In 2016, the law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation identified 1,450 crimes involving Nazism; investigations were completed in 1,207 cases, and 933 criminal cases were sent to trial. In the criminal investigations that were completed, 934 individuals were identified as having committed crimes. In the first quarter of 2017, law enforcement agencies identified 421 such crimes, and 211 individuals responsible for committing them, in the 267 criminal cases that wer e sent to trial. 40. Work has continued on curtailing the activities of radical organizations that focus their activities on inciting racial hatred and promoting neo -Nazi ideology. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of such crimes planned or carried out using the Internet. In 2016, such offences accounted for 63.2 per cent (526 of 831) of the total number of crimes covered by Act No. 114 -FZ. 41. The Government has stressed that the competent authorities are also working to identify and block published information containing calls to carry out activities intended to promote racial, ethnic or religious hatred or propaganda or ideas of exclusivity or of the inferiority of individuals on any of those grounds. From February 2014 to April 2017, the authorities identified around 42,000 Internet sites containing material promoting ideas of racial intolerance, xenophobia and neo-Nazism. Monitoring of the mass media and websites to identify materials relating to Nazi or nationalist crimes that are being planned or have been committed and of the activities of radical groups is carried out by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with civil society organizations. 42. The authorities have also taken steps to combat prejudice that leads to racial discrimination and to increase mutual understanding, tolerance and friendship among nations and ethnic and religious groups. In that regard, multi -ethnic organizations and movements are encouraged, as are measures intended to break down race barriers and 10/21 17-13411