For whom the Bell Tolls?

Latest several years have become a test of faith for non-Orthodox religious associations in Russia. In the beginning there were Jehovah's Witnesses, then Scientologists, today evangelicals have also begun to have problems Christian. As a result, many citizens of our country, who are interested in issues of state-confessional relations involuntarily began to ask questions, what is happening is the embodiment of religious policy of the state or, conversely, the absence of any policy in these issues, and, as a result, the lawlessness of individual officials in the field. However, the events that are now taking place in Khabarovsk, perhaps, are no longer alarming, but make you think very seriously about the observance of the right to religious freedom in our country.

September 1-2, 2009 Local Religious Organization Faith Christian Church evangelical "Grace" of Khabarovsk, which is part of the Russian The Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith held events called "Tres Dias" ("Three days with God") in the wellness camp "Amur Pearl". At the end of the event, some Bakirin M.A., Kazantseva O.A. and Alferov The O.I.s present at this Tres Dias contacted investigating authorities with allegations of illegal detention with a demand to involve to the responsibility of the representatives of the Grace Church, who organized and hosted the Tres Dias.

By was carried out in the case investigation , as a result of which it was allegedly established that in relation to applicants during conducting religious rites, methods of psychological impact, which resulted in a change in the mental state of the applicants and how resulting in serious bodily harm. In this regard, the investigator of the Investigative Department at the Department of Internal Affairs for the Amur Municipal District, a criminal case was initiated case under Part 1 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm), which is currently under preliminary investigation stage.

Meanwhile, according to the disposition of this article, the intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm entails danger to human life, or loss of vision, speech, hearing or any body, or the loss by the body of its functions, or expressed in indelible disfigurement of the face, as well as causing other harm to health, life-threatening or causing health problems. However, this harm must be associated with a significant permanent loss of general ability to work not by less than one third or with a complete loss known to the perpetrator professional ability to work or resulting in the interruption pregnancy, mental disorder, drug addiction or substance abuse.

In this case, we are talking about mental frustration of the so-called victims. At the same time, it should be noted that neither one of them did not turn to doctors for help and, accordingly, on sick leave was not. The accusation is based on the results of the so-called study, which was carried out in the course of the procedural checks on this case by specialists of the Regional Psychiatric Hospital in regarding the applicants. However, this study, even at a stretch, cannot be called scientific and objective. Meanwhile, scientificity and objectivity are fundamental features of any examination.

What is the essence of "serious harm" established experts?

How indicated in the conclusion, the subjects began to show a disorder adaptation (a combination of psychological symptoms: anxiety, irritability, irascibility arising as a reaction to life events or stresses), mixed anxiety and depressive reactions, psychological dependence on this organization. Perhaps many readers will agree with me that the data conditions that were qualified in the study as a long-term severe health disorder, experienced by everyone at certain stages of their lives.

If such conditions are considered as serious harm to health and, as a result, criminal cases are initiated, then based on the same logic, it is possible under Part 1 of Art. 111 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to bring to justice a drunkard husband who brings his wife to adjustment disorder, boss at work, harassing with unnecessary nit-picking his subordinates, the "villain" teacher, frightening with the expulsion of students for failing the exam. And moreover, you can, falling in love with someone, attract to responsibility the object of their heart suffering for unrequited love, which resulted in serious emotional distress. Absurd?! But precisely on such grounds and "concocted" the case.

Tem nevertheless, despite the absurdity of the situation, a another criminal case on the grounds of a crime under Part 1 of Art. 239 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (creation of a religious association whose activities are associated with violence against citizens or other harm to their health). As the representative of the prosecutor's office explained in the hall of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, at present time both of these cases are merged into one proceeding.

In turn, the prosecutor's office of the Khabarovsk Territory applied to the court with a statement on the liquidation of the Church and the ban on its activities for territory of the Khabarovsk Territory. April 27, 2011 Khabarovsk Regional Court satisfied the requirements of the prosecutor's office.

At In addition to the aforementioned psychiatric research, the so-called religious studies research, conducted by a certain specialist Ivanishko I.V., member of the expert council for conducting State Religious Expertise under the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for the Khabarovsk Territory and JAO, the scientific nature of which can be judged by the terminology used: “ a religious organization "Grace" refers to the neo-Pentecostal religious movement and recognized as a destructive religious organization of a sectarian type… Methods impact on human consciousness, used at religious events churches of Christians of the evangelical faith "Grace" and similar neo-Pentecostal sects, pose a danger to the mental and physical health of citizens and should be regarded as mental abuse . " I think comments are unnecessary.

But, confessional bias and unscientific nature of these examinations, the court not only did not notice, but also substantiated his decision with excerpts from expert opinions : Thus, at the hearing, a body of evidence confirmed the fact the fact that there are actions on the part of the MPO "Blagodat" that encroach on personality, rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as damaging morality and the health of citizens. These actions are expressed in the use of MPO "Grace" of methods ("Alfa-course", Tres dias, Encounter, loud prayer leading to speaking in "other" tongues, rituals laying on of hands on the head and body of a person "Descent of the Holy Spirit"), each of which individually and collectively contain elements of suggestion, self-hypnosis, psychological manipulation carried out against the background altered "route" states of consciousness, that is, they affect the mental state of citizens. The actions of the MPO "Blagodat" inflicted damage to the health of citizens.

Meanwhile, any student of the faculty religious studies will notice blatant religious illiteracy as research and court decisions. What is called in research and decision The "techniques" are actually:

• catechetical programs ("Alpha Course", Tres Dias, Encounter; by the way, "Alpha Course" is held in most Christian denominations, including Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches various denominations, though not all in these denominations is approved ),

• or common in Christianity religious practices (the laying on of hands or prayer in tongues and the descent of the Holy Spirit, also inherent not only to Pentecostals).

Involuntarily one wonders how the court, which should be objective and impartial, does not not only did not react critically to illiterate "research", but also without compelling grounds sentenced to liquidation the Church, existing for years on the territory this region, which has numerous letters of thanks from the Administration region and social institutions for the work carried out by her free of charge. Moreover, It is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that out of more than 600 members of the Church only three were allegedly psychologically traumatized, and even those were not members. A the other six hundred are actively trying to defend their pastor and the Church. Evidence of this is the numerous requests for help from members of the Church posted on various websites and social networks.

wanted would agree with the words of the well-known lawyer Anatoly Pchelintsev, who noted that with such an approach, taking into account the equality of all confessions before the law, it will be possible to talk about the liquidation and prohibition of the activities of the ROC with its rituals, "incense", "laying on of hands", "reprimands" with sprinkling with "holy water" and the imposition of the Cross, long fasts, monotonous prayers, many hours of night standing, vows of celibacy, monastic practices, etc.

July 5, 2011 his authoritative opinion on This case was expressed by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, which overturned the decision of the Khabarovsk court and remanded the case for retrial.

But despite this, literally the next day after the decision of the Supreme Court in the framework of criminal case began mass interrogations of believers in the city of Khabarovsk. So Thus, for believers there is a very real threat of criminal prosecution in a situation where, even within the framework of civil proceedings, claims against their organizations were rejected by the Supreme Court. And it's criminal prosecution carried out on the basis of an uncritical acceptance by the investigation of the psychiatric conclusion, unable to distinguish between religious experiences and psychic disorders.