The Institute of Religion and Law asks the authorities to intervene in the situation related to the presence of “cultists” in the Expert Council under the Ministry of Justice

The Institute of Religion and Law issued an open appeal to President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov, Commissioner for Human Rights Vladimir Lukin, several representatives of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and the head of the Synodal Department for Church and Society Interaction Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin.

The authors of the appeal recall that the inclusion in the Expert Council of several "sectologists" under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation provoked protests from the scientific community, religious organizations and human rights activists. As part of the campaign "No to Inquisitors!" as of August 21, more than 12,000 signatures had been collected.

Since the Ministry of Justice rejected claims to the composition of the Council, the Institute of Religion and Law asks the authorities to intervene in the conflict situation. "The consequence of the appointment of people who are incompetent and known for attacks against non-Orthodox Christian denominations and other religions may be the destabilization of the religious situation in various regions of the country, given that the "sectologists" themselves - members of the Council under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation are already using their position with might and main during trips and speeches in the regions - to incite the media and authorities against "non-traditional" religious associations," the appeal says.

Sources

• Appeal of the Institute of Religion and Law to the authorities on the preliminary results of the action "No to Inquisitors!" with a request to intervene in the conflict situation around the presence of radical "sectarians" in the Council under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation // Slavic Legal Center. 2009. August 21.