Protest of priests in Russia: "In place of the men in Moscow could have been anyone"

There is resistance in Russia: After the protests in Moscow and tough judgments against several mostly young men, Russia experiences a wave of solidarity. In addition to actors, teachers, doctors and priests of the Russian Orthodox Church are protesting with video calls and open letters on the Internet against their disproportionate prison sentences.

Dozens of ministers have published a letter saying:

" We are worried that the sentences imposed will act as an attempt to intimidate Russian citizens, and not as just judgments against the defendants. (... ...) Intimidation does not create a free, loving society."

It is an unusual criticism that causes a stir. Because the church, to which more than 70 percent of Russians confess, acts as a supporter of the Kremlin. Patriarch Kirill once described President Vladimir Putin as the "miracle of God".

Archpriest Vyacheslav Perevesentsev nevertheless signed the letter as one of the first.

SPIEGEL: Have you considered signing the letter for a long time?

Perewesentsew: No, I immediately signed when I learned about it on social media. That is for me a question of conscience. And frankly, I have not thought about how many priests will participate.

SPIEGEL: You were 27th, meanwhile there are more than six times as many. They say it was a conscience decision. You have to explain that, please.

Perewesentsew: We are believers, Christians, we can not just pass the injustice, ignore it. Our job is to help people in trouble. The mostly young men who were convicted after the protests in Moscow are really in trouble. We are not lawyers, but in their cases the injustice is so obvious. We do what we can: We pray for them and try to make the public aware of the cases. If we do not, it will get worse and give more such unfair punishments.

SPIEGEL: What exactly do you think is unfair?

Perewesentsew: Let's take the case of Pavel Ustinov ... ...

SPIEGEL: ... ... the 24-year-old actor who was sentenced to three and a half years in prison because he allegedly injured a security guard on his shoulder when he was arrested.

Pavel Golovkin / AP / DPA

The actor Pavel Ustinov during a video hearing

Perewesentsew: It is obvious that this is a mistake of the court. Videos show that not only did he not seriously hurt or hurt any of the officers. Moreover, he happened to be there, and as they ran after him, he tried to run away. To regard this as an attack on an official is a very unusual interpretation of the situation. It is clearly unfair. Had he been fined, it would have been bad, but being sentenced to prison is terrible.

Pavel Ustinov has just been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for this. Somehow this constitution "attacking a policeman"? The 23-year-old is now the seventh person to be jailed as part of the #Moscow protest cases. pic.twitter.com/XM1eOFrxXB

SPIEGEL: Do you still have faith in the judiciary in Russia?

Perewesentsew: Yes, but it decreases with each of these cases. For me, as a priest and citizen, it is important for courts in our country to have some authority, to act according to the law and not simply to punish. It is not clear why this young man Ustinov was convicted. Anyone could have been in the place of the men in Moscow, including my children. I do not want that. There are so many unfair decisions, not just after the protests in Moscow.

SPIEGEL: Do you see political judgments in that?

Perewesentsew: Hard to say, there is certainly a background, I do not understand it.

SPIEGEL: The Russian Orthodox Church is considered close to the Kremlin. The church spokesman has already described your letter as a "political statement". What do you reply?

Perewesentsew: Our writing is not political, it is a moral gesture. We should always be on the side of man in our faith, our faith calls for mercy and compassion. Many people called and thanked me after I signed the letter. It is very important that the church is not silent. We priests are not alone: ​​journalists, actors, doctors and teachers have also made public statements. Historically, we have gone through a very difficult road in our country, there has not been a place for a civil society for a long time. With God's help may something come from what has happened. At Ustinow it has already done something, the prosecutor's office has demanded a milder judgment. Maybe more men will be released, penalties changed. I hope so.

SPIEGEL: You openly criticize the states. Many people are afraid to speak publicly or participate in protests.

Dmitri Lovetsky / AP / DPA

Demonstration against the recent convictions of peaceful demonstrators to long prison sentences

Perewesentsew: Yes. It is perfectly normal for people to peacefully express their rejection or call for joint action.

SPIEGEL: Are you not afraid of any consequences?

Perewesentsew: I too am afraid. I understand very well that one could find a reason to reproach me as a priest with political activity and punish me. But I'm sick, have a brain tumor, if no miracle happens, I do not have much time left. What should I be afraid of? I sincerely hope that none of the priests who signed the letter will have problems. That would be unfair - and the injustice would only get bigger.