The Presidential Administration justified the use of special transport by Patriarch Kirill

On June 4, 2013, journalist Saken Aimurzaev received a response from the affairs of the President of the Russian Federation to his appeal with a request to explain why the patriarch Kirill used a special flight aircraft for his visit to China. Detachment "Russia", designed to transport the highest officials of the country.

In a response signed by the head of the transport department D. Anosov, it is reported that the basis for the use of the aircraft was the decree President D. Medvedev dated 10/18/2011 "On the organization of transportation of persons replacing public positions of the Russian Federation, individual positions of the federal public service, other persons.

This decree empowers the president to provide services flight squad at your discretion.

S. Aimurzaev in his blog drew conclusions from this answer:

“*1) Patriarch Kirill is the first head of the Russian Orthodox Church who received the right to use special transport. destination. It happened under the President Medvedev.

2) The plane was provided to Patriarch Kirill for a visit to China in May 2013 with written consent of President Putin.

3) The flights of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church were paid for by the Administration, then is from the budget.

4) The church in Russia is not separated from the state*”.

Sources

• Response to my appeal regarding the Patriarch's plane // Blog of S. Aimurzaev on "Echo of Moscow". 2013. June 5.
• The head of what flies on a special flight? // ReligioPolis. 2013. June 6.