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This is an unprecedented initiative in Russia. More than 180 Orthodox priests have supported demonstrators arrested last summer in Moscow and sentenced to long prison terms. In an open letter that made a lot of noise in Russia, these priests ask the justice to return to these convictions. Meeting with one of those religious who took up the cause for the protesters.
We are in a small church in the center of Moscow, not far from the Kremlin. The prayer takes place in the crypt, in the basement, a few dozen faithful are kneeling. At the end of the liturgy, we meet Father Oleg, one of the first to sign the open letter of support for the protesters .
" I did it out of compassion for those innocent people who end up in jail. And also because I would like a better justice in our country. When police officers are sentenced, the punishment is symbolic. And there for simple protesters, or for a plastic cup thrown to the police, the prison sentences are very severe. "
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It is very rare in Russia that orthodox priests dare to intervene so directly in the public debate. And the initiative is all the more courageous as the Orthodox Church is considered an ally of the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin.
" As you can see, I'm not afraid. In recent days, I have received a lot of support, a lot of positive comments. There have been criticisms of course, but most of the messages are to support us. What surprised me most was the number of signatories. We went from a quarantine in the beginning to more than 180. "
Unsurprisingly, the letter of support to the incarcerated protesters sparked heated debate among the Orthodox clergy. But after condemning the initiative of the signatory priests, the patriarchy finally adopted a more nuanced position, and even recognized the shortcomings of the Russian judicial system.
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