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Georgian Orthodox pray for peace

GEORGIAN PATRIARCH ILYA II:  "WE ARE NOT FIGHTING ANYONE AND WE CONSIDER OSSETIANS OUR BROTHERS"
Portal-credo.ru, 9 August 2008

Catholicos-Patriarch of all-Georgia Ilya II addressed Russia, USA, and European countries with a call to do everything for resolving the conflict in South Ossetia peacefully. This was stated by the head of the official Georgian Orthodox church addressing the flock on the evening of 8 August in the patriarchal "Sameba" (Holy Trinity) cathedral in Tbilisi, IA Novosti-Georgia reports.

"I want to ask big countries like Russia, America, and the European countries that they do everything so that this conflict be resolved peacefully," the catholicos-patriarch declared.

"We are not fighting anyone; we are trying to defend our native land. We have considered them (Ossetians) and we do consider them our brothers and we call them to remain like brothers. This conflict is dangerous. I want to ask the Lord that the Lord would give us strength, spiritual strength firstly, and give us wisdom and love. We ask the Lord that he give us peace and prosperity," Ilya II said.

Earlier on 8 August the Georgian patriarchate issued a statement in which the catholicos-patriarch of all-Georgia called the flock of the Georgian church to intensify prayer for peace.

According to the statement of the patriarchate, daily services for peace should be conducted in all active churches of the Georgian Orthodox church until the cessation of military actions. (tr. by PDS, posted 10 August 2008)

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Baptist appeal to Russian prosecutor general

DOCUMENT: Statement to the prosecutor general of RF by the president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists Yu.K. Sipko in connection with hindrances to the conduct of "TransformationÑ2008 congress

Prosecutor General of RF
Chaika, Yu.Ya.

Esteemed Yury Yakovlevich

In the period from 31 July to 4 August the centralized religious organization "Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists" conducted its "TransformationÑ2008" congress in the territory of the "Rucheek" camp located in Moscow province in Istra region and occupying an area of 8.5 hectares. This event was organized by us in accordance with the charter of the union and on the basis of point 2, article 16 of federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations," which establishes that worship services and other religious rituals and ceremonies are performed without hindrance in houses of worship and facilities on territories associated with them and in other places provided to religious organizations for these goals. Such an "other place" for us was the territory of "Rucheek" camp, with whose administration we had concluded a lease agreement.

The organizing committee of the congress devoted great work in order to create all conditions necessary for accommodating 2300 delegates of the congress. For these goals, in supplement to the existing places for accommodation in the buildings of the camp, a tent town was laid out and three hot meals daily were planned. We observed all sanitary and hygienic standards and rules for fire safety. At the time of the conduct of the congress, order reigned on the territory of the camp and ideal cleanliness was maintained. Not to mention that in accordance with our confession of faith Evangelical Christians-Baptists do not use alcoholic beverages and refrain from smoking.

We informed appropriate provincial authority structures and the head of the Istra municipal region, A.N. Shcherba, about our plans and we hoped for their help and support. Instead of that, the head of the Istra municipal region, A.N. Shcherba, undertook actions directed to the interruption of the conduct of the congress. By her order, in the afternoon of the start of the congress the electricity was cut off in the camp. At Mosenergo we were told that this was done by order of the top authorities and the cut off would last until 4 August. This really did subject the health of congress participants to danger, about which up to that time the head of the Istra municipal region, A.N. Shcherba, was so concerned. We were forced to seek independent sources of supply. Members of the organizing committee, instead of fulfilling their obligations, were forced to answer question of numerous investigations. Even the regional prosecutor's office was brought into the affair, which issued a warning to the leadership of the union.

In our view local organs of authority infringed upon our constitutional rights and crudely violated articles 27 and 28 of the constitution of RF. We consider that the actions of the head of the Istra municipal region, A.N. Shcherba, fall under article 148 of the criminal code of RF, which establishes responsibility for illegal hindrance of the activity of religious organizations or the performance of religious rituals. We ask that you review the question of holding A.N. Shcherba criminally liable.

We ask also that you not send our statement for review by the Istra region prosecutor's office, since in our opinion the prosecutor of Istra region does not stand guard for the law but fulfills the orders of the head of Istra administrative region.

With profound respect,
Yu.K. Sipko,
President RSEKhB
5 August 2008

(tr. by PDS, posted 9 August 2008)

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 9 August 2008

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President Dmitry Medvedev displays interest in church

DMITRY MEDVEDEV VISITS RAIFA MONASTERY
by Renat Sadykov
Komsomolskaia Pravda--Kazan, 8 August 2008

President Dmitry Medvedev arrived at the Mother of God monastery of Raifa around two o'clock in the afternoon. It had been expected that he would visit this shrine with his wife, but the First Lady did not arrive at Raifa.

On this trip the president was accompanied by the head of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev. The special guests were greeted at the gate of the main belfry by the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Vsevolod. They were also approached by Schema Monk Sergius who presented both presidents signed Orthodox booklets. This violated protocol; books first are supposed to be examined by members of the president's security service. But the head of state only smiled and accepted the clergyman's gift. Nothing else violated procedure further.

Fr Vsevolod personally conducted the excursion around the grounds of the sacred place. The president of the country greeted parishioners who were in the monastery at the time. Many did not expect to see the head of state here. And then they began photographing Medvedev with cell phones. Several priests even followed their example.

This was Dmitry Medvedev's first visit to the Raifa monastery and he viewed all the churches with pleasure, including the cathedral of the Georgian icon of the Mother of God, in which the miracle-working image of the Holy Theotokos is kept. At this time the believers were asked to leave the church for a short time.

In the Trinity church Medvedev heard Orthdox singing performed by the monastery's "Pritchi" quartet. The head of state also visited the children's dormitory where orphans and problem children are trained; this day there were few children there. "It's a pity that I did not manage to find the kids. I must come here another time. Along with my wife and son," the president said. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

Russian original posted on Blagovest-Info site, 8 August 2008

SVETLANA MEDVEDEVA MAKES PILGRIMAGE TO DIVEEVO MONASTERY
Portal-credo.ru, 6 August 2008

The wife of the president of the Russian federation, Svetlana Medvedeva made a pilgrimage on 5-6 August to the Holy Trinity St. Seraphim Diveevo convent of RPTsMP. The First Lady met the abbess of Diveevo convent Hegumena Sergiia, the website of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese of RPTsMP reports.

Svetlana Vladimirovna reverenced the sacred things of Diveevo, kneeling at the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the Diveevo saints and she strolled along the Diveevo canal. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

MEDVEDEV ARRIVED AT DON MONASTERY TO SAY FAREWELL TO SOLZHENITSYN
Interfax, 6 August 2008

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived at the old cemetery of the Don monastery where the funeral of Alexander Solzhenitsyn was beginning.

Having interrupted his short vacation, the head of state returned to Moscow on Wednesday inorder to accompany the writer on his final journey.

Passing the ancient monastery gates, D. Medvedev joing Muscovites attending the funeral of Solzhenitsyn in the large monastery cathedral.

The head of state arrived at the church with a bouquet of maroon roses. Medvedev conversed with Solzhenitsyn's widow several minutes and expressed condolences to his sons and relatives.

The funeral liturgy for Solzhenitsyn was performed by Patriarchal Vikar Archbishop of Orekhovo-Zuev Alexei. The family of the writer, his widow Natalia Dmitrievna and his sons Stepan and Ermolay were in the church.

Solzhenitsyn will be buried at approximate noon in the cemetery of Don monastery. The body of the writer will be committed to the earth in the central part of the monastery cemetery, behind the altar of the church of John of the Ladder, next to the grave of Vasily Kliuchevsky.

This place of rest was selected by the writer himself while he was alive. Five years ago in response to a request from Solzhenitsyn Patriarch Alexis approved the assignment of the plot in the cemetery of Don monastery for the future burial of the writer.

A. Solzhenitsyn died the night of 4 August at 90 years of age.  (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

DMITRY MEDVEDED VISITED MAKARY CLOISTER IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD PROVINCE.
Portal-credo.ru, 6 August 2008

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, traveling along the Volga on a boat, visited the evening of Tuesday 5 August the Holy Trinity St. Makary Zheltovoda convent of RPTsMP, Blagovest-info" was told in Nizhny Novgorod diocese of RPTsMP.

Dmitry Medvedev made an excursion about the cloister and stopped in the Makary church and Trinity cathedral and reverenced the relics of St. Makary of Zheltovoda and Unzhen. Archbishop of Nizhegorod and Arsamas Georgy presented to the president an icon of the Mother of God of Tenderness. . . . (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV AND WIFE VISIT IN TOLGA CONVENT
Portal-credo.ru, 4 August 2008

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife, Svetlana, visited last weekend the Tolga monastery of RPTsMP in Yaroslavl province, "Russkaia liniia" reports, citing the official site of the Yaroslavl diocese.

The occasion for the visit by the president to Yaroslavl was the preparation for the celebration of the millennium of the city.

The president and his wife arrived along the Volga at the Tolga convent close to lunch time. The first business of the guests was a visit to the cathedral of the Presentation, where Dmitry Medvedev viewed the ancient interior of the church.

The main sacrum of the monastery is the icon of the Tolga Mother of God, preserved from the fourteenth century. This icon often saved the convent and Yaroslavl land from pillage and raids of conquerors. Dmitry Medvedev knelt at the miracle-working icon, which according to tradition appeared to the monk Trifon in 1314, when the monastery was founded.

Accompanied by the tolling of the monastery bells the president walked through the unique cedar grove where there is an ancient wooden chapel, erected in one day, immediately after the discovery of the icon.

The guests left the monastery after lunch. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

MEDVEDEV VIEWS RESTORED DORMITION CATHEDRAL IN YAROSLAVL
Blagovest-Info, 4 August 2008

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who was in Yaroslavl on Sunday, stayed in the riverside city and viewed the restored cathedral of the Dormition, RIA Novosti reports.

The governor of Yaroslavl province, Sergei Vakhrukov, told the head of state about the history of the city, calling attention to the memorial stone with the inscription:  "On this spot in 1010 Prince Yaroslav the Wise founded the city of Yaroslavl. . . ."

The founder of the Dormition cathedral in Yaroslavl was the grandson of Yury Dolgoruky, Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich. The church was begun in 1215. In the second half of the 13th century the Dormition cathedral became the burial place of Yaroslavl princes.

In 1501 it burned and on its site was erected a new stone church. The third cathedral on this site was built in 1646 because the predecessors were not spacious enough to accommodate the needs of the growing city. In 1786 the archiepiscopal see was transferred from Rostov to Yaroslavl and from this time the Dormition church was the cathedral church.

In 1929 worship services in the cathedral ceased and it was used as a workshop and later a grain storehouse, and in 1937 it was demolished.

Work on restoring the church began in 2004. First archaeological work was conducted on the construction site during which more than 2,000 items were found that allowed for conclusions about the way of life, religious views, and the development of crafts in Yaroslavl.

At the present time the walls are being raised. It is planned that in October 2008 work on mounting the cupola will be completed. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

PIECE OF THE ROBE OF THEOTOKOS MEDVEDED GAVE TO ALEXIS II EXHIBITED IN CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR FOR BELIEVERS VENERATION
Portal-credo.ru, 15 July 2008

On the feast day of the Deposition of the Precious Robe of the Holy Mother of God in Vlacherna, 15 July, a reliquary with a part of the robe of the Mother of God was carried out of the altar of the church of Christ the Savior in Moscow for believers' veneration. This sacrum had been donated by Dmitry Medvedev to Patriarch Alexis II from the museum of the Moscow Kremlin on 29 June, "Life News" reports.

The sacred items were brought to the church by an honor guard squad of the presidential regiment. Besides the piece of the robe of the Holy Theotokos, the patriarch received from the president's hand a piece of the relics of Holy Prince Equal-of-the-apostles Vladimir and seven other reliquaries. All of these sacra have ancient origins and before the revolution they were sacred items of the Moscow Kremlin and later were preserved in Kremlin museums.

The solemn transfer of the reliquaries was timed to coincide with the beginning of the celebration of the 1020-th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus.

According to tradition, the robe of the Mother of God was discovered in Nazareth in A.D. 471 and transferred to the Vlacherna church in Constantinople. At the end of the 14th century part of the robe of the Theotokos was transferred from Constantinople to Rus by the holy prelate Dionisy, archbishop of Suzdal. With it is connected the miracle of 1451 when Moscow was attacked by the horde of Tatar Tsarevich Mazovshi. According to the chronicle, in the night of 2 July, after the appearance of the Mother of God in the camp of the Tatars there occurred a great confusion and the enemies threw down their loot and fled hastily in disarray. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

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Protestant dialogue in Moscow

UNDER THE AEGIS OF LAUSANNE:  BAPTISTS AND PENTECOSTALS OF RUSSIA SEEK PATH OF COOPERATION
by William Yoder
Department of External Church Relations RSEKhB, 3 August 2008

The Lausanne movement in Russia received a new impulse toward development. On 29 July, for the first time in many years, in Moscow in the central office of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (RSEKhB) there was held within the framework of the Lausanne movement a meeting in which Baptists, Pentecostals, and charismatics participated. In as much as international conferences of this movement are held rather infrequently, there is usually observed a certain tendency toward activation of efforts of churches in this direction in the period immediately preceding a conference.

It is known that the Lausanne conference and the movement connected with it have the goal of finding a common theological basis of various Christian confessions for joint evangelization. In a conversation immediately after the session, the first deputy of the executive bishop of the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, Pavel Anatolievich Bak, said that protestants working together are that force which would be able to resist the secularization of Russian society. "Our problem is the judgment of society. Society and public opinion act today as the chief judge. And often this judge says 'public preaching is a violation of the national idea, or the national identity of Russia, and therefore it is better for you to keep silent.' And we often submit to this word and keep silent, or we speak in a way that others do not hear."

The head of this church, executive bishop Pavel Nikolaevich Ikara, recalled that the renewal of meetings of Baptist and Pentecostal churches under the aegis of the Lausanne movement is a continuation of a cooperation that existed back in the time of the soviet epoch, since at that time both protestant confessions were members of a single structure, the All-Union Council of EKhB. However, the present cooperation has an absolutely voluntary character, in contrast to the forced cooperation in the soviet period, when it was not possible to do other than to be united to receive legal status.

Charismatics, the Russian Associated Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith, were represented by their president, Bishop Sergei Vasilievich Riakhovsky. The session also was attended by two delegates from the Pentecostal church of Ukraine, The Union of Free Churches of Christians of Evangelical Faith of Ukraine, Senior Bishop Vasily Fedorovich Raichinets (Uzhgorod, Transcarpathia) and the rector of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary, Anatoly Vladimirovich Glukhovsky (Kiev).

The president of the Lausanne movement in Russia is the president of RSEKhB, Yury Kirillovich Sipko.

The director of the Department of External Church Relations of RSEKhB, Vitaly Kirillovich Vlasenko, explained the absence of representatives of other confessions at the meeting by the fact that in the main only these three churches are the initiators and active supporters of the Lausanne movement in Russia. At the same time he added:  "However we are open to receiving all churches who wish to participate in it." At the next session of the Consultative Council of Heads of Protestant Churches of Russia, scheduled for the beginning of September, all other confessions will be invited to participate in this movement.

The Lausanne movement was founded in 1974 in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland, under the leadership of American evangelist Billy Graham and is closely connected with the Evangelical Alliance. Subsequent to this Lausanne conferences have been held in Manilla in 1989 and in Pattaya (Thailand) in 2004. The next conference is schedule to be held in Capetown in South Africa in 2010. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

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Evangelical leaders speak for peace in south

PROTESTANT LEADERS OF RUSSIA CALL GEORGIA TO CEASE MILITARY ACTIONS IN SOUTH OSSETIA.
Interfax, 8 August 2008

Heads of protestant churches of Russia expressed extreme concern over the situation in South Ossetia and called both sides in the conflict to peace.

"We call you to cease military actions and to return to the negotiating table! All evangelical churches of Russia are praying for comfort for the sorrowing, reasonableness on the part of politicians, and peace in the land of South Ossetia," the appeal to the president of Georgia and to all sides of the military conflict in South Ossetia says; it was delivered to Interfax-religiia on Friday.

The document was signed by protestant leaders who are members of the Council for Relations with Religious Associations of the presidential administration of RF, Bishop Sergei Riakhovsky, Bishop Alexander Semchenko, and Pastor Vasily Stoliar.

"Is it really possible to measure the value of human life? Does there really exist something that is equally valuable to this gift from God? Is a piece of earth, wealth, or a fighter's glory worth killing for, even people of your own faith? How then can you look into the eyes of a widow, orphan, or mother who have buried their son? How will you stand before a holy God at his judgment? The blood of the slain will bear witness against you!" the appeal says.

"This is our prayer and our cry. People, come to your senses! What are you doing?" the religious leaders called. (tr. by PDS, posted 8 August 2008)

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Authorities slow to protect Jehovah's Witnesses' interests

"JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES" HALL BURNS IN MOSCOW PROVINCE
Religiia v svetskom obshchestve, 7 August 2008

On the night of 11 July the hall of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" caught fire in the Moscow suburb of Chekhov. According to reports from eyewitnesses, the fire trucks arrived 30 minutes after they were called and they stood for a long time on the neighboring street.

At the site of the fire remains of a canister with gasoline was discovered and therefore the Jehovah's Witnesses suggest that the cause of the fire was arson. The Department of Internal Affairs refused to conduct an investigation. (tr. by PDS, posted 7 August 2008)

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Newspaper gives bad publicity to Jehovah's Witnesses

SECTARIAN GRANDMOTHER KILLS GRANDSON IN UKRAINE WISHING THEREBY TO SEND HIM TO PARADISE
Interfax, 7 August 2008

A sixty-six-year-old resident of Kiev committed a ritual murder whose victim was her nine-year-old grandson. She struck the boy with a flat-iron and committed her misdeed with the help of a rope, the Ukrainian edition of the "Komsomolskaia Pravda" newspaper reported on Thursday.

Then the woman took her grandson in her arms and carried him to a hotel where previously she had prepared everything necessary:  candles and a leaflet with a "prayer for entrance into paradise," given to her by members of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" sect.

Neighbors described how on the day before the murder of the grandson she talked all the time about religion and the approaching end of the world. "Jehovah's Witnesses" had convinced the woman that in 2014 the Lord supposedly will descend to earth and resurrect the dead, after which all the righteous will go to paradise and take their children with them.

The prosecutor of Kiev has opened a criminal case regarding the event. A forensic psychiatric examination was conducted which concluded the murderer was incompetent.

"I was in shock and therefore I recall the funeral poorly. If I did not have faith in God I would go out of my mind," the thirty-six-year-old mother of the boy, Elena Ponomarenko, acknowledged.

According to Elena, her mother always had eccentricities: thus, one time she tried to break up her daughter's marriage. In the afternoon she threw knives and pots about the kitchen and shouted profuse insults and at night the mother broke into the bedroom of the young folk and, sobbing uncontrollably, cursed herself, the daughter, and the whole world, the article notes.

After the death of her son Elena went away to the Pochaev lavra for several months in order to recover from the experience.  (tr. by PDS, posted 7 August 2008)

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A Russian church for homosexuals

FAMOUS SCHISMATIC YAKOV KROTOV COMPARES ADVOCATES OF TEACHING FOUNDATIONS OF ORTHODOXY IN SCHOOLS TO PEDOPHILES
Interfax, 7 August 2008

The famous schismatic "priest" and radio announcer Yakov Krotov called the teaching of foundations of Orthodoxy in Russian schools "religious pedophilia."

"A person has become an adult but is unable to love his neighbor as an adult, as an autonomous individual capable of his own religious choice. Such a person also flees from adults and goes to children in the schools. Such a person even begins to inculcate compulsory teaching of "Foundations of Orthodox Culture," Ya. Krotov declared; his words were posted on Thursday on the "Radio Liberty" site.

"However," Krotov continues, "he does not communicate any kind of Orthodoxy to the children; he delivers at best hypocrisy and ritualism and, at worst, his own infantilism in relations with people and with God."

Krotov also noted that "one should not fear pedophiles who have united in a legal party," as, for example, this happened in Holland, where a party of advocates of pedophilia has been registered.

In his opinion, "Russian experience shows that a party with such a name is one thing, but reality is something quite opposite."

Yakov Krotov is a priest in the Kharkov-Poltava diocese of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, which is not recognized in the Orthodox world. In 2000, along with the defrocked priest Gleb Yakunin, he founded the so-called "Apostolic Orthodox Church." In 2008 the greater part of the members of the "Apostolic Orthodox Church" transferred to the "Apostolic Reformed Orthodox Church," which became the first religious organization of Russia oriented to a sexual minority. (tr. by PDS, posted 7 August 2008)

Background information

APOSTOLIC REFORMED ORTHODOX CHURCH

History:

The church was created in October 2007. It is also sometimes called "Association of Societies of the Apostolic Tradition." Soon there was formed a parish in Munich and on 25 November a second Moscow society. Thus now the church comprises three societies and also two groups of believers (in Germany, Berlin and Nurenberg). They use the liturgy of St. John Chrisostom. The church is inclusive and thanks to this has become an object of media attentionÑthe creation of societies for homosexuals, marriage of two women, ordination of an activist of the LGBT movement as a priest. They accept a married episcopate and the supreme organ of administration of the church is a council of representatives of societies.

Bishops
Aleksei Skripnikov-Dardaka
Dionisy Batarchuk

Source:  "Russkoe pravoslavie" site 

APOSTOLIC REFORMED ORTHODOX CHURCH OPENS FIRST CHURCH IN RUSSIA FOR GAYS AND LESBIANS
Aleksionapolis, 9 September 2007

A church for LGBT-Christians has been opened, consecrated to the Protection of the Holy Theotokos.

"Christ came to earth not for the sake of priests nor for the sake of the powers that be but for the sake of simple people in order to give to them his love. There is not a single part of Christ's heart which he would not give to you; therefore believe and know: God loves you!"

With these words Archbishop Aleksei last Saturday, 8 September, began the solemn liturgy devoted to the opening of the first parish in Russia of the Apostolic Reformed Orthodox Church consecrated to the Protection of the Holy Theotokos.

For the assembled gays, lesbians, and transsexuals who make up the parishioners of the newly opened church this was a significant event. Among GBLT citizens there are very many believing people who are lost in a spiritual sense.

For centuries, so-called Christianity, forgetting the commands and summons of Christ, who taught love even of one's enemies, has made of gays and lesbians the outcasts of society, taking from them the right to believe in God and often their very lives.

However always and in all ages there have appeared courageous priests who despite persecution on the part of the church system have remembered that the basic command of Christ is to love God and neighbor, and their goal to testify of the love of God and not to divide people into chosen and rejected. Such priests have been subjected to all kinds of persecution on the part of official churches. . . . (tr. by PDS, posted 7 August 2008)

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Protestant campgrounds shut down by authorities

"RUCHEEK" CAMP WHERE "TRANSFORMATION" CONGRESS WAS HELD SEALED
Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 6 August 2008

On 5 August judicial officers sealed the "Rucheek" camp, where the "Transformation" congress of Evangelical Christians-Baptists was held. This happened despite the fact that the congress already had concluded and a majority of the claims of the inspecting agencies were connected with the congress in one way or another. Among the claims: observation that the camp is not equipped for a large number of vacationers (although additional places for tents were specially equipped), lighting of fire (in two grills), peeling paint on walls of buildings and even "wet asphalt," which was ordered to be dried.

It is necessary to note that the decisions of two judicial sessions of the Istra regional court (2 and 5 August) were made in the company of procedural violations. The defendant was not at either of these sessions for legitimate reasons. In the first case, the summons was not received until after the court had rendered its decision and in the second case the court refused to accept evidence of the defendant's illness. The director of the camp, Vladislav Vovk, fell ill because of the stress he experienced and is under constant care of medical workers, regarding which the court was presented corresponding documents.

The leadership of the camp did not agree with the claims and sent a petition to the Istra regional court, which transferred the case to Moscow provincial court.

Because of the closing of the camp, the check-in for a new session, which was supposed to begin its work on 6 August, was interrupted. More than 200 children from Moscow and Istra and other regions of the suburbs of Moscow, instead of going for a vacation in a comfortable camp, were forced to stay at home. (tr. by PDS, posted 7 August 2008)


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