Andrey Kuraev spoke about the “fork of probabilities” in Russia: prison

Former Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev, stripped of his rank and banned from serving by Patriarch Kirill, confirmed his plans emigrate to the Czech Republic. According to the theologian, although he would like to live in Prague – he spent his childhood there – the move is still involuntary for him.

In an interview with Fontanka Kuraev reported, that when making a decision, he was guided by two types of reasons. Firstly, personal reasons, and Kuraev recalled his disagreements with the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church. The second type of reason is “the main thing is that it is unsafe here.”

Theologian noted that current judicial practice in Russia “does not know acquittals,” and also “now the initiative for reprisals can come from private individuals” and “any conscientious citizen can write a denunciation.”

“Another new thing (compared to the repressions of the USSR. – MK) – Orthodox activists are now often among the informers,” Kuraev said.

He drew attention to the “complete tastelessness” in the interpretation of the article about insulting the feelings of believers and cited as an example the new design of Central Bank banknotes, caused a religious scandal.

“Insult by inaction, failure to mention, insufficient bow or compliment,” Kuraev added. “This is something new.”

The former archdeacon sees the same situation in a number of new secular articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: “What does “discredit”, “slander” mean? <...> Anything that differs from the official Department of Defense press release is “slander.”

Finally, as Kuraev noted, “the statute of limitations on fashion articles has been forgotten” and today “they can be prosecuted for publications that were 15 years old.”

“The range of probabilities has emerged quite clearly,” Kuraev summed up.