Patriarch Kirill urged not to frighten with non-existent Russian nationalism

Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill said that Russian nationalism does not exist in nature, and no one should be frightened by it. At the same time, he considers it important to work on the adaptation of migrants. This is how he commented on the aggravated interethnic situation after the terrorist attack that occurred in Crocus City Hall on March 22.

“Let no one scare us with Russian nationalism. Russian nationalism does not exist in nature, everyone knows that. But to talk about the importance and the Role of the Russian people in the preservation of our multinational country – I think that this is an important topic that we should also address,” said Patriarch Kirill at the extraordinary congress of the World Russian People’s Council (quote from “RIA Novosti”).

In his speech, he noted that the threat lies not in migration, but in “the unwillingness of some migrants to respect the culture of the country where they came to work.” He also said that Russia has always sought to build “good neighborly relations” with the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, migrants must also show respect for the foundations and culture of Russia.

The Patriarch of Moscow also statedthat the organizers of the terrorist attack wanted to pit two religions against each other, using internal problems with the migration situation in the country. According to him, “the efforts of opponents who dream of destroying Russia are being defeated” by the ideological and moral unity of Orthodox and Muslims.

On the evening of March 22, at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, a group of men opened fire on visitors to the concert hall and started a fire. Died 140 people. The number of victims, according to the Center for Disaster Medicine, increased up to 360. The Islamic State (IS) group, banned in the Russian Federation, took responsibility for the terrorist attack. The FSB detained 11 suspects, the Basmanny Court of Moscow arrested five citizens of Tajikistan and two natives of Tajikistan with Russian citizenship, as well as a native of Kyrgyzstan with Russian citizenship, who rented out an apartment to terrorists.

After the terrorist attack in Crocus, Vice Speaker Vladislav Davankov (“New People”) offered deport migrants for any violation of the Code of Administrative Offences. The LDPR proposed tightening migration legislation, blocking “easy passages” to residence permits, Russian citizenship and benefits. And the head of “A Just Russia – For Truth” Sergei Mironov offered radically review migration policy and pay close attention to measures for the adaptation of migrants in Russia.

Against the backdrop of this discussion, a number of politicians and cultural figures called not to incite ethnic hatred and warned of the threat from far-right groups. In particular, rapper Timati recorded a video message in which he stated that “right-wing formations are dispersing interethnic narratives against the residents of Tajikistan.”

About the reaction of the authorities to the terrorist attack – in the material “Kommersant” “Supervision is aimed at specific goals”.

Delgir Mandzhieva