Religious figures of Russia supported the aggression against Ukraine
The website cef.ru provided an account of the Russian spiritual leaders' main ideas.
The event was attended and supported the rejection of "Nazism": Metropolitan Cornelius of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church, Head of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia Albir Hazrat Krganov, Supreme Mufti, Chairman of the Central Religious Administration of Muslims of Russia Talgat Tajuddin, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church Relations of the Department of the Federation of Jewish communities of Russia for interaction with the Armed Forces, Ministry of Emergency Situations and Law Enforcement Agencies of the Russian Federation Aaron Gurevich, representative of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia grandfather Hambo – Lama Dashinima Sodnomdorzhiev, Head of the Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of Armenia and other members of religious organizations from different regions of the country. Representatives of federal executive bodies, the scientific community, public figures, and the media also participated.
"The event raised issues of coordinating the activities of Russian religious organizations and authorities in the field of countering the ideology of neo-Nazism, realizing their educational potential in strengthening the spiritual security of Russian society based on preserving the historical memory of the victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War," the report says.
Statements of various participants of the event
Chief Bishop of the Russian United Union of Evangelical Christians (Pentecostals) Sergey Rakhovsky emphasized:
"This is a very important event that shapes our religious opinion, all religions, all faiths of Russia, how we can today serve those who go through pain, through suffering and give them hope. Our humanitarian projects are important, but the word plays an even more significant role here, and I am sure that today we saw that we are together and stronger. Today we have a clear, understandable, Christian mission for our peoples of Russia and Ukraine."
Olga Timofeeva, chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Development of Civil Society, issues of public and religious associations, said:
"Our common task today is to become that monolith and find those touches so that every religion helps and supports both our president and our people, and protects our national idea because today it is more important than ever. Every day we watch reports from military fronts, but I want to say that the humanitarian front – assisting refugees, numerous people, including many children, the spiritual front, the religious front is no less important today. People are waiting for the voices of their pastors. People are waiting for the voices of the people they come to mosques and temples."
Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova noted in her speech:
"It is not fierce hatred that will bring the future to the new civilizational world, but good. And today, we are looking for those sprouts of good, those people in Ukraine who are ready for dialogue and help. We are against torture and violence, and we are in favor of restoring humanitarian corridors for those who want to go out and define their lives. We are in favor of helping the wounded and continuing the exchange. We want to do everything possible to build a new and just world."
In addition, the participants of the round table expressed support for the "special operation to denazify" Ukraine and took the initiative to appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a proposal to hold an anti-fascist conference in Russia. They also decided to send a joint appeal to the UN secretary-general calling for eliminating discrimination against Russian-speaking people in the world, the text of which will be agreed soon.
