Religious leaders diverge in assessing law enforcers' actions against leader of "Christian Community" in Sochi

Alexander Akhazov, the pastor of the Evangelical Christians' "Bethany" Church of Krasnodar, has sent an appeal to the General Prosecutor in connection with the prosecution of Alexander Kolyasnikov, the head of the "Christian Community" in Sochi.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Alexander Kolyasnikov, the pastor of the "Christian Community", was fined by the court for conducting an uncoordinated meeting in a cafe when participants were reading the Bible.

Alexander Akhazov, the pastor of the Evangelical Christians' "Bethany"Church, believes the actions of the law enforcement authorities were unlawful.

"Alexander Kolyasnikov is accused of holding a public event in the form of a meeting without submitting a notification under the prescribed procedure... Meanwhile, in accordance with Paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Federal Law No. 54-FZ 'On meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches, and pickets' dated June 19, 2004, no notification is required for holding a public event in the form of a meeting," Alexander Akhazov notes in his appeal to the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation, a copy of which was received by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Father Rustik, the priest of the Archangel Michael's Cathedral, a representative of the Orthodox Church, has expressed a different position concerning the case. According to him, "the law enforcement agencies are to monitor the activities of non-traditional religious groups, since some individuals from authorized groups often create their own groups that can promote viewpoints contradicting to the law."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.