Russian Orthodox leader rejects criticism over state ties

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has called President Vladimir Putin’s rule a “miracle of God,” defended its close ties with the state Thursday against criticism fuelled by the trial of three members of the Pussy Riot punk band. In remarks published the day before a court issues its verdict in the trial over the band’s protest against the church’s political role on a cathedral altar, Patriarch Kirill said the church and state were merely bound by a “common agenda.” While the patriarch did not refer directly to Pussy Riot, his comments amounted to a firm rejection of the band’s criticism, which has triggered debate in Russia about whether the country’s dominant religion should play any role in politics. “In Russia, possibly for the first time since the [1917 Bolshevik] revolution, the rule of the church’s separation from the state, proclaimed as a result of the October Revolution, is being followed quite closely,” Kirill said in an interview with Polish media before a visit to Poland. “This means that the state, the authorities and the church are autonomous from each other. We are truly autonomous, we do not interfere in one another’s dealings and we cherish this autonomy. The Russian Orthodox Church very much cherishes this freedom that exists today.” Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, burst into Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral on Feb. 21 and sang a protest urging the Virgin Mary to “Throw Putin out!” The protest united many Russian Orthodox believers in outrage, but their trial has exposed deep rifts over the church’s role in politics. The women could face three years in jail on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred in a case that has also drawn international criticism over Moscow’s record on human rights and political freedom. Paul McCartney threw his support behind the band Thursday. The former Beatle told the three young women to “stay strong” and said he would do everything in his power to help them. McCartney wrote: “Dear Nadya, Katya and Masha, I’m writing to show my support for you at this difficult time. “I would like you to know that I very much hope the Russian authorities would support the principle of free speech for all of their citizens and not feel that they have to punish you for your protest. “Many people in the civilized world are allowed to voice their opinions ... as long as they do not hurt anyone in doing so. I believe this is the best way forward for all societies. “I hope you can stay strong and believe that I and many others like me who believe in free speech will do everything in our power to support you. Wishing you the very best of luck, Paul McCartney.” Amnesty International handed in a 10,000-signature petition Thursday in support of the Pussy Riot singers to the Russian Embassy in London. The verdict due Friday may overshadow Kirill’s trip to Poland, the first by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to Russia’s Roman Catholic western neighbor. In a copy of the interview obtained by Reuters, Kirill portrayed the church’s relationship as nothing out of the ordinary. He said any “normal state” would share the church’s interest in “questions of morality.” Putin’s ruling United Russia party has, like the church hierarchy, sought to portray the Pussy Riot protest as immoral and blasphemous. The three women say they did not mean to offend Orthodox believers and wanted to protest against the strengthening links between the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church. From dailystar