The Moscow Patriarchate Steps In Between the Government And People
9/1/2012
Although the Orthodox Christmas celebrations, a joyous and a somewhat more sacramental time of year than the Christmas of December, took place barely 2 days ago, tensions continue to rise between the Russian government and a large number of the Russian populace over the recent legislative election which many perceive as fraud.
More than 85,000 people turned out for demonstrations in the past month, mostly in Moscow to protest the results of the election. The peaceful protesters are displeased with current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s and Presiden Dmitry Medvedev’s “regime” along with the presence of the United Russia Party.
So far, demands from the protesters mostly include a rerun of the election along with the firing of the Central Election Commission Chief Vladimir Churov who has 4 years left as the CECC of the Russian Federation.
Putin is of course subtly refusing to comply with these demands by offering promises of more transparency and a relaxation of present restrictions.
Last September, Putin and Medvedev announced plans regarding their future posts in the government. Essentially, the two agreed on “swapping” jobs with Putin returning to the presidency and Medvedev taking over as prime minister.
According to Putin, who was Russia’s president from 2000 to 2008, the swap “was agreed between ourselves long ago, several years ago as a matter of fact, on what to do in the future and on who should do what.”
If Putin is to win the presidential election, he will be allowed up to two consecutive terms meaning that he will be in office for a maximum of 12 years.
Although polls were generally showing favor to the Putin-Medvedev duo, concerns over the lack of democratic processes and the recent demonstrations clearly show that the public is becoming tired of the present status-quo.
Now, the highly influential Russian Orthodox Church, otherwise known as the Moscow Patriarchate, has stepped in between the people and the government to act as a middle man for the ongoing disputes which is surprising as the Patriarchate is silent or pro-government most of the time.
The Patriarchate’s head, the Patriarch Kirill I (pictured), called for the government to listen to the people and “correct the course so everything will be fine” on television.
Although the Church did not criticize the government or accuse it of rigging the election, Patriarch Kirill I also urged the government to avoid using force on the people lest Russia goes back to its old Soviet ways.
The Patriarch also cautioned protesters to not “be used by those who hunger for power” and that their demands should not rattle the foundations of modern Russia but instead produce political reforms they want.
Kirill I also warned watching audiences that another Russian revolution, in addition to the Bolsheviks’ 1917 October Revolution, would be catastrophic for the nation economically, spiritually and politically.
