On December 21, an unknown perpetrator wrought havoc on the grounds of the church of St. Michael the Archangel in Smorgon. Several religious statues and the priest's car were damaged. The man shouted that the Catholic Church should "get out of here".
According to the parish priest, Fr. Artur Leshnevsky, around one o'clock in the morning he woke up from loud screams and banging on the doors and windows. An unknown man, cursing obscenely, hit the priest's car with a heavy object, and also broke the figure of the Mother of God and tore the metal cross from the hands of the statue of Michael the Archangel. The man repeatedly shouted that the Catholic Church should "get out of here" and that it has no place here.
The priest called the police and the attacker was detained. Placing the broken statue and cross next to the altar the priest asked the faithful to pray for the perpetrator.