Hierarchs of Russian Orthodox Church may become eligible to run for election

Bishops and priests of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) may become
eligible to stand for elections, including elections to the Duma, but
only in cases of "extreme church necessity." The project was approved
on Friday at a session of the Inter-Council Presence of the ROC, which
was held by Patriarch Kirill.

At present, the fifth chapter of the foundations of the social concept
of the ROC, entitled 'Church and Politics', prohibits clerics from
participating in elections, as well as being members of political
parties or publicly supporting them.