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A 15-year-old boy in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg was hospitalized with a fractured eye socket earlier this month after a violent assault by classmates sparked by an Israeli flag displayed on his social media profile picture, according to local reporting.
The attack occurred at a school in the city’s Moskovsky District. The incident came to light after coverage on Sunday by Saint Petersburg-based Channel 78.
Harassment Escalates Into Violence
According to the victim’s mother, her son — identified publicly as “Anton” to protect his identitywas confronted by a classmate who demanded to know why he had chosen an Israeli flag as his profile image. Throughout the day, the classmate allegedly harassed Anton, hurled insults, and invoked Holocaust-related taunts.
After Anton stood up to the harassment in front of other students, the situation escalated. The classmate lured him to a school restroom “to talk” and arrived with an older accomplice.
Inside the restroom, the attackers reportedly demanded that Anton kneel and apologize. When he refused, he was repeatedly punched in the face while the older individual blocked the exit. The attackers then warned him not to report the assault.
Anton sustained a fracture to the orbital bone surrounding his eye. Doctors performed surgery under general anesthesia and removed bone fragments. He remained hospitalized for more than a week due to the severity of his injuries.
Criminal Case Opened
Following the attack, Anton’s mother filed a police complaint. An official inquiry was also submitted to the Moskovsky District Department of Education. Authorities have since confirmed that the Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case on charges of assault and battery.
It remains unclear whether Anton is Jewish. However, the motive for the attack — as described by the victim’s family — centered on the display of an Israeli flag and included explicit Holocaust references.
The names used in reports are pseudonyms, and the case remains under investigation.
The incident underscores the persistence of antisemitic intimidation and violence targeting perceived Jewish identity or support for Israel — even among minors — and raises urgent questions about school safety and accountability in the face of ideological hatred.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
