TsOSKR commented on media reports about the reaction of the prosecutor's office to the holding of the Days of Indian Culture in Yaroslavl

The Center for the Society for Krishna Consciousness in Russia (TSOSKR) considered it necessary to comment on the reports that appeared in the media (including on our website ) about the reaction of the Yaroslavl district prosecutor's office to the Days of Indian culture in the city. According to the CSRC, the information disseminated is inaccurate, and as a result, readers have a distorted view of what happened.

Here is the full text of the CSC's statement:

"For several months now, the unhealthy excitement around the "Days of Indian Culture", which were held in Yaroslavl at the end of this summer by followers of Hinduism, has not subsided, after which the Yaroslavl Hare Krishnas were accused of having a "religious" holiday and, therefore, they allegedly "violated" the law.

So, on November 7, some media reported that the Kirov District Prosecutor's Office of Yaroslavl even opened a case against the Society for Krishna Consciousness, and issued a "warning" to its leaders, arguing that such a "substitution" would entail "manifestations of extremism."

In this regard, we consider it our duty to clarify the following.

Firstly, we are talking only about the fact that 19 Oct. In 2007, Lyudmila Lapardina, who was responsible for holding the holiday, was indeed prosecuted for an administrative offense. But this case, initiated just a week before the expiration of the statute of limitations, was dismissed by the justice of the peace without consideration on the merits. Surprised Hare Krishnas did not even have time to say a word in their defense. But the worst thing is that the case turned out to be put on wide display in the form of a kind of atrocity, although only a court can establish guilt.

Secondly, for the holiday there was no need to submit a notification at all, since the coordination was carried out in a different order - in accordance with the resolution of the mayor of Yaroslavl. The organizers showed the representatives of the authorities photographs from similar holidays held in other cities of the world, explained in detail the meaning of the action "Ratha-yatra" ("Procession of the Chariot"), presented the program and details. The purpose of the celebration was really to acquaint the inhabitants of Yaroslavl with the ancient culture of India, which cannot be imagined without its spiritual roots. The application was duly reviewed and approved by the administration of the Kirovsky district of Yaroslavl.

In great detail about the "Procession of the Chariots" was told at a meeting when considering the application in the presence of Vice Mayor V. Velichko, adviser to the governor on work with religious organizations V. Kuvshinov, deputy head of the administration of the Kirovsky district of Yaroslavl A. Udaltsov and others.

By the way, exactly the same holiday was already held in Yaroslavl last year and did not cause any comments from the city administration and law enforcement agencies.

Therefore, the absence in the statement of an indication of the "religious nature" of one of the elements of the holiday in no way violates the requirements of the law "On meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and picketing."

To put it in legal terms.

Thirdly, allegations that Hare Krishnas allegedly "hide" the religious nature of the event under the guise of "secular" - the fruit of the efforts of the notorious Yevgeny Mukhtarov, who has a personal dislike for Hare Krishnas and therefore, as he himself figuratively puts it, "strangles" them (recently Mr. Mukhtarov was fined for insulting the feelings of believers, although he most likely will not pay). The mere enumeration of the "violations" of the Hare Krishnas during the celebration of the "Days of Indian Culture" occupies as many as six pages in his statement to the prosecutor's office! Unfortunately, the "arguments" presented by Yevgeny Mukhtarov were regarded by the prosecutor's office and some journalists as credible.

It is also sad that so far no one has bothered to ask the opinions of Indologists on this matter, who believe that classical Indian culture is inextricably linked with religious motives and plots of scriptures. Any holiday of Indian culture invariably carries a spiritual content.

In particular, the well-known Indologist, senior researcher at the Center for Indian Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences I. Glushkova explains: “In Hinduism, unlike other religions, it is impossible to separate religious tradition from culture. In Indian culture, religious symbols lose their religious meaning and are imbued with pan-Indian humanitarian content".

This has long been well known. For example, before the speech of high-ranking Indian political figures at the UN, the hymns of the Vedas, purely religious in nature, are heard there, but it never occurs to anyone to see some kind of catch here.

Or take, say, Indian dances. This art is invariably popular with many Russians. But after all, any such dance is also an appeal to God, to one degree or another. Agree, it is absurd to require dancers to submit a notice about the "religious nature" of the dance!

Thus, all this "scandalous" hype around the "Procession of the Chariots" is inflated by one person alone. It is naive to assume that the author of the "scandal" Yevgeny Mukhtarov will give up his attempts to denigrate the Hare Krishnas in any way.

Therefore, we appeal to the media with a request to be attentive to such "sensations", understanding the delicacy of religious topics. After all, you can always turn for the necessary information, for the sake of objectivity, to representatives of a particular tradition. This will curb the flow of speculation, protect society from manifestations of intolerance and hostility, which cause serious damage to the already shaky inter-religious peace in Russia.

Secretary of the Center for the Society for Krishna Consciousness in Russia (TSOSKR)

R. Chuchulyan".

The "case" against the Hare Krishnas is closed: The excitement around the Indian holiday "Procession of Chariots" in Yaroslavl turned out to be "noise out of nothing." TsOSKR. 2007. November 13.