“The word “sobornost” unites all our confessions”

The Universal Russian People’s Convocation opened in Moscow yesterday. Its attendees call it a public forum playing an important role in the intellectual, spiritual life of Russia and the international community. The forum gathered delegates from all federal districts of Russia, state institutions, leaders of parliamentary factions and representatives of traditional religions: Christians, Judaists, Buddhists and Muslims. Mufti Albir Krganov, the head of the Muslim Administration of Moscow and the Central Region, expressed his opinion about the unity of Russia in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- We live in a united country. Russia was initially formed as a multi-ethnic, multi-confession state. And today modern Russia has unique experience of good neighbourliness of different cultures and peoples. So representatives of other nationalities and different religious outlooks perceive it absolutely fine. The word “sobornost” unites all our confessions, including Muslims. The word “jamaat,” or unity, is a familiar term for Muslims too. We can move forward today only together, especially in the modern world. Our history is a millennium of experience, a long-suffering model of cooperation of our peoples. The modern system is unique because there are so many peoples, religions, and all the people have not disappeared as part of the Russian state throughout the history of the Russian state. They preserved their identities and cultures. We know other big countries, where over 100 peoples disappeared, they are completely lost today. We could preserve it all in Russia. It is very topical that it is the Russian People’s Convention headed by the Russian Orthodox Church that pays so much attention to the unity of history, the unity of peoples, the unity of Russia. It is exceptionally important for us to understand this today.

In 2013 a very serious document was passed in Russia for the first time, the Strategy of State National Policy. It is an important document. The head of state draws the attention of everyone, lawmakers and functionaries, to the problem of responsibility in the sector. The enemies of our country, the enemies of our multi-ethnic nation of Russia are trying to embroil our religions, our peoples, our confessions today. I think that they will fail, because we have already developed an immunity to that pest.

- The Day of People’s Unity was marked on November 4. Not all people are aware that Kuzma Minin was a Tatar…

- Not only Minin, but Pozharsky also had Tatar blood from his grandmother. It is our history too when the militia were headed by natives from the Volga Region and people were united, they managed to save Russia.

We have recently had a project for heroes [The project called “Name of Russia” was organized to let Internet users, TV and radio audiences pick significant personae associated with Russia.] His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was talking about Alexander Nevsky then. Alexander Nevsky is a hero, a persona, a man who had very interesting diplomatic work with the East, he was a friend. Russia is a Eurasian country, and we were friends with each other on the border, moreover, the Horde was not claiming the mind and spirit of the Russian peoples. It was giving freedom of religion. There are very many examples in the history of our Fatherland when we lived, live and must live as friends with each other.

Says Albir KrganovThe Universal Russian People’s Convocation opened in Moscow yesterday. Its attendees call it a public forum playing an important role in the intellectual, spiritual life of Russia and the international community. The forum gathered delegates from all federal districts of Russia, state institutions, leaders of parliamentary factions and representatives of traditional religions: Christians, Judaists, Buddhists and Muslims. Mufti Albir Krganov, the head of the Muslim Administration of Moscow and the Central Region, expressed his opinion about the unity of Russia in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.- We live in a united country. Russia was initially formed as a multi-ethnic, multi-confession state. And today modern Russia has unique experience of good neighbourliness of different cultures and peoples. So representatives of other nationalities and different religious outlooks perceive it absolutely fine. The word “sobornost” unites all our confessions, including Muslims. The word “jamaat,” or unity, is a familiar term for Muslims too. We can move forward today only together, especially in the modern world. Our history is a millennium of experience, a long-suffering model of cooperation of our peoples. The modern system is unique because there are so many peoples, religions, and all the people have not disappeared as part of the Russian state throughout the history of the Russian state. They preserved their identities and cultures. We know other big countries, where over 100 peoples disappeared, they are completely lost today. We could preserve it all in Russia. It is very topical that it is the Russian People’s Convention headed by the Russian Orthodox Church that pays so much attention to the unity of history, the unity of peoples, the unity of Russia. It is exceptionally important for us to understand this today.In 2013 a very serious document was passed in Russia for the first time, the Strategy of State National Policy. It is an important document. The head of state draws the attention of everyone, lawmakers and functionaries, to the problem of responsibility in the sector. The enemies of our country, the enemies of our multi-ethnic nation of Russia are trying to embroil our religions, our peoples, our confessions today. I think that they will fail, because we have already developed an immunity to that pest.The Day of People’s Unity was marked on November 4. Not all people are aware that Kuzma Minin was a Tatar…- Not only Minin, but Pozharsky also had Tatar blood from his grandmother. It is our history too when the militia were headed by natives from the Volga Region and people were united, they managed to save Russia.We have recently had a project for heroes [The project called “Name of Russia” was organized to let Internet users, TV and radio audiences pick significant personae associated with Russia.] His Holiness Patriarch Kirill was talking about Alexander Nevsky then. Alexander Nevsky is a hero, a persona, a man who had very interesting diplomatic work with the East, he was a friend. Russia is a Eurasian country, and we were friends with each other on the border, moreover, the Horde was not claiming the mind and spirit of the Russian peoples. It was giving freedom of religion. There are very many examples in the history of our Fatherland when we lived, live and must live as friends with each ot