Opinions of religious figures on the possibility of participating in protests against election fraud

Representatives of various religious organizations expressed their opinion about the protest actions taking place in different regions of Russia against the falsification of the results of elections to the State Duma.

On December 9, 2011, a statement was issued by the commander Bishop of the Russian United Union of Evangelical Christians Sergei Ryakhovsky, in which he spoke out sharply against participating in protests.

“The business of believers is to bless the authorities, to pray as it is written in the Bible: "... for kings and for all those in authority ..." (1 Tim.2:2). I always I said and I say that I will support the authorities, while denouncing for any lawlessness, but only by denouncing it to the face, and offering a solution, and not at rallies or demonstrations,” the bishop said in a statement.

The author of the text agrees that “it is possible that the current power has flaws," but those who oppose it, he considers "much more dangerous." As a way to resist election fraud, S. Ryakhovsky offers to go to court.

“If your heart aches for the Motherland, there is a huge field for activities: help old people in nursing homes, visit before new year orphanage or hospital, feed the hungry or donate blood for a transfusion. Give love, bring light and preach the gospel - this will serve your country and make it better!” the bishop advises.

On December 10, another representative of the Pentecostals spoke - Bishop Konstantin Bendas, managing director of ROSHVE. According to him, "those who perverted the truth, falsifying the results of the vote”, “acting treacherously”.

“Our position, as Christians, as a religious organization, is on the one hand, standing in prayer to refrain from illegal actions, on the other we cannot but support those who demand the protection of their civil rights. The right of a voter to cast their vote for a candidate, a political party. And so that this vote is taken into account and not stolen,” K. Bendas believes.

However, he is confident that "more efficient and useful to build a civil society in the country, there will be a concentration of efforts on competent preparation of claims and their submission to the relevant prosecution authorities, police, investigative committee, professional support of cases during litigation".

December 9 Pastor of the Evangelical Church "Christian Life" Alexey Klimenko addressed the pastors and believers of the Evangelical Moscow churches. On behalf of the pastors of this church, he declared: “We are not we can agree with what is happening in our country, but we also cannot stand on side of revolutions, unrest and Russian rebellion.

He offered the pastors 10 December, on the day of the protest, “organize prayer meetings for our churches, so as not to create tension and precedents, not to create common prayer meetings of a large number: a maximum of one or two churches.

The author of the appeal urged believers “not to become evil fighters against evil, but to use the privilege of being peacemakers and intercessors for their people.”

Head of the Public Relations Department of the Federation Jewish communities of Russia Borukh Gorin on the eve of the action on December 10 in the blog of the Lechaim magazine, he explained to the Jews that they were visiting Russia, “the main thing the same rule of conduct at a party - do not poke your head into the home squabbles of the hosts.

“It seemed to me that three revolutions, three wars and a permanent relentless anti-Semitism taught my Jewish fellow citizens this. So no, again very nice to me personally and intelligent people are trying to give their lives for me on barricades,” complains the FEOR representative.

“In the entire history of our blessed Fatherland, it is precisely the current authorities publicly and openly support Jewish community life. Guys, should we be satisfied with this? Well why should you bother the fate of distant ragamuffins is greater than the fate of your small people? Not allow yourself to hang noodles on your ears about universal values ​​and inspirational brotherhood of man, the circle of these dreamers is narrow.

Power is disgusting like the hands of a barber, but someone needs to get a haircut,” writes B. Gorin in your comment.

Chairman's Statement Ulema Council of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Damira Mukhetdinova, was published under the heading "The Fatherland in Peril!" Danger, according to the imam, is that "Satan and his acolytes urge believers to take to the streets and rebel against the authorities . D. Mukhetdinov expressed fear that the situation in Russia will follow the example of the Arab countries. That's why he issued an appeal to the believers: "Do not give in to for provocation! Don't go out to the streets to participate in meaningless promotions! Do join any n't processions! As an alternative, the DUMNO representative suggested a prayer.

December 8 portal "Orthodoxy and the world” published a selection of opinions of Orthodox clergy on participation in protest actions.

Rector of the Church of St. mts. Tatiana at Moscow State University Archpriest Maxim Kozlov refused to consider the rally participants "the people." Students who accepted participation in a protest action, according to the priest, “little people understand that are doing."

On the whole, the shepherd divided the protesters against the deceit into elections into three categories: organizers, for whom, “to put it mildly, the rods cry”; those, “who have already jumped into the well (in the early 90s), but their history is nothing didn’t teach” - Father Maxim such “it’s a pity, but not too much”; and "poor naive children, idealists who have been led to the well by manipulation of consciousness and are encouraged to inappropriate actions.

The priest doubts that “through democratic elections, something can be decided”, and dreams of a law, “according to which in public public events would not be allowed to participate years before thirty."

Instead of speaking out against election fraud, the abbot temple at Moscow State University called on the Orthodox "to go skating on the just a beautiful skating rink opened in Gorky Park.

Priest Alexander Shumsky is convinced that the Orthodox in general should not participate in protests against the government - "except in those cases when it comes to obvious theomachism and mockery of the shrines.

Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko, in contrast to the aforementioned priests, notes that “the people are outraged not so much by the results of the elections, how much attitude towards oneself”, but “to protest against cynicism and spitting possible and necessary."

“When truth, human, national dignity, when the age-old foundations are consistently and consciously destroyed - the people have the right to be indignant,” Father Alexander believes. However, he fears that “discontent will overflow its banks”, and calls on the participants of the rallies “to be collected as much as possible and, without losing composure, to meet possible provocations and don't fall for them."

Head of the Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin reported that "Orthodox Christians more than once protested in the form of rallies and pickets against a number of events and decisions authorities”, but reminded of the need to act within the law. He wondered the question "why are political groups that clearly do not have a real popular trust, are now trying to speak on behalf of the people, and what are the internal and external forces stimulating this activity.

December 9 head of the Synodal Information Department Vladimir Legoyda stated that "participation or non-participation in authorized rallies is a matter of responsible personal choice of every citizen. At the same time, of course, you need to refrain from shares prohibited and provocative”.

After the rally on December 10, the clergy commented on what happened.

Head of the Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin is satisfied that during the protests “the rule of law was respected both by those who came to the rallies and by those who guarded law and order". He expressed hope that the authorities would respond to the questions asked during rally questions "honestly and adequately, that they do not hang in the air." However more preferable to the priest sees a dialogue between the authorities, various political and public associations within the framework of, for example, the Public chambers.

Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev is also satisfied that the rally in Moscow, thanks to the actions of the authorities and the behavior of protesters passed without incident. “This is the school for the formation of civic responsibility and people, and in the power itself,” the clergyman is convinced. He noted "dogmatism consciousness” of the opponents of the rally participants, who accused those who came to Bolotnaya area is that they act at the behest of the West.

“The demonization of dissenters is the path to repression and war. IN At the same time, legal rallies and discussions are the way to avoid upheavals and revolutions,” says the protodeacon.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, as of December 12, did not condemn the falsification of elections and did not express his attitude to the protests.

Sources

• Commentary by the Commanding Bishop of the Russian United Union of Evangelical Christians, member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, Bishop Sergei Ryakhovsky on the situation with anti-government demonstrations in Moscow // Press service of the ROSHVE. 2011. December 9th.
• Commentary by the First Deputy Commanding Bishop, Head of the ROSHVE, Bishop Konstantin Bendas, on the Socio-Political Situation in Russia after the State Duma Elections // Press Service of the ROSHVE. December 10th.
• An Appeal to the Pastors of Evangelical Moscow Churches and Other Beloved Brothers // Protestant.ru. 2011. December 9th.
• Borukh Gorin. visiting rules // Blog of the magazine "Lechaim". 2011. December 8.
• Damir Mukhetdinov: "The Fatherland is in danger!" // Islam in Nizhny Novgorod. 2011. December 9th.
• Rally: for or against? // Orthodoxy and the world. 2011. December 8.
• The Church considers it important to establish the truth in the issue of election results by legal methods and urge to refrain from provocations // Interfax-religion. 2011. December 9th.
• Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin: I hope the government will answer the questions asked at the rally // Orthodoxy and the world. 2011. December 10.
• The Church calls to prevent a new revolution in Russia // Interfax-religion. 2011. December 10.
• Protodeacon Andrey Kuraev: A rally has passed - so what? // Orthodoxy and the world. 2011. December 10.