Coffee was spilled on the feelings of believers

The image of a teapot pouring coffee into the open dome of the temple was recognized as improper advertising that offends the feelings of believers. Violations of the law were revealed by the Udmurt Department of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in a booklet released on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the opening of Coffee Seven, a popular coffee shop in Izhevsk. Its windows overlook the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The diocese considered the use of the image of the temple offensive, and the partially dismantled dome in the picture was a reminder of the actions of the Soviet authorities to destroy shrines. In the coffee shop itself, they say that they did not want to offend anyone and seized the booklets after the first complaints appeared.

The reason for the proceedings was an advertising booklet released in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Izhevsk coffee house “Coffee Seven”, which was sent to regular visitors. One of the townspeople drew attention to him (his last name is not given), who complained to the antimonopoly service. “Back in 2003, in the very heart of Izhevsk, a cozy city coffee house appeared – the very, very first in the city,” the advertisement in question says.

“The booklet depicted a giant teapot pouring coffee from above into the open dome of the bell tower of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral,” the Udmurt OFAS Russia specified.

The coffee house, we note, is located next to this temple, the windows of the institution overlook directly the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

When considering the case, the antimonopoly body turned to the Izhevsk and Udmurt diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church for comments. They pointed out that “the partially dismantled dome with a cross resembles the actions of the Soviet authorities to destroy shrines” and “the provocative image of the cross on the falling dome grossly violates the religious feelings of Orthodox Christians.” “When analyzing the events depicted in the image, one can also pay attention to a disproportionately large teapot from which hot liquid is poured into the torn dome, and if we analyze the consequences, we can conclude that this will undoubtedly disrupt the course of worship, as well as harm property (the interior of the temple, shrines), life and health of people present in the temple from among the clergy, employees, parishioners, pilgrims and other visitors, that is, the image in an allegorical form expresses a threat to property, including shrines, as well as to the life and health of a group of people “, – says the diocese’s response to the request of the OFAS (available to Kommersant).

As a result, the regional department of the FAS acknowledged the advertisement of the coffee shop “Coffee Seven” as improper and violates the law “On Advertising”, as it offended the feelings of believers.

The OFAS noted that the law on advertising prohibits the use of obscene and offensive images, comparisons and expressions, including in relation to religious symbols. The violator faces a fine in the amount of 100 thousand to 500 thousand rubles. The owner of the coffee house “Coffee Seven” Maxim Konovalov explained to “Kommersant” that he had not yet received the decision of the OFAS and could not comment on it. “There were no thoughts of offending anyone,” the restaurateur noted. “Printed products were produced in a minimal edition. As soon as a complaint arose, it was immediately seized and destroyed.”

Irina Pokatovich, head of the antimonopoly law practice at the Intellectual Capital law firm, explains that if an advertisement is found to be inappropriate, then “the next stage is bringing to administrative responsibility”: “At the same time, the voluntary termination of the distribution of the advertising booklet can be taken into account as a mitigating circumstance.”

Mikhail Krasilnikov, Izhevsk