After Pussy Riot affair, MPs slam analyst who calls for Russian Orthodox Church reform
Moscow (AsiaNews) - Calling for reforms in the Russian Orthodox Church so that it stops being the "servant of the secular authorities" could land well-known political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky (pictured) before a court. Some members of the ruling United Russia party, like Mikhail Markelov, have asked the Russian Investigative Committee to examine one of his articles published in the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper to see if it can be deemed extremists and defamatory.
"If violations of these articles [of the Russian Criminal Code on extremism and defamation] are found in Belkovsky's material, I demand a criminal case against him to be opened," the United Russia website quoted Markelov as saying.
In an article that appeared on 15 February, Belkovsky said that the Russian Orthodox Church should "be transformed into a confederation of independent parishes," in which "parishioners will elect pastors, pastors - bishops, bishops - the patriarch."
"The reformation is necessary so that the Church becomes an institution for the emancipation of Russians and ceases to be an agent of authoritarianism and a servant of the secular authorities," Belkovsky wrote.
However, for United Russia member Sergei Popov, "Belkovsky's article is definitely causing additional tension in society and is creating a very serious conflict". In Popov's view, the Orthodox community and clergy should vet the possibility of filing a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office.
In defending his views, the political analyst said there were no grounds for any legal case against him. "All statements, saying that my concept to reform the Russian Orthodox Church are extremist and deserve a criminal case, have nothing to do with either the spirit or the letter of the Christian religion, or Russian criminal legislation," Belkovsky told Interfax. However, "I don't rule out a criminal case being opened," he added.
Following the uproar caused by the punk prayer performed by feminist group Pussy Riot in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral, the debate over religious extremism and offending believers' religious feelings has heated up in Russia.
As a consequence of their action, two members of the feminist punk rock group were sentenced to two years in a labour camp for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred.
Now the Duma is considering an anti-blasphemy bill that would impose fines of up to US$ 10,000 or three years in jail in case of public insults against religion and humiliation of liturgical services.
Under the draft proposal, if places or objects of worship are destroyed, fines could reach half a million roubles with 400 hours of compulsory labour or five years in jail.
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22/11/2005
