By Vestnik Kavkaza
The video of the detention of Orkhan Zainalov, who is suspected of the murder of Egor Shcherbakov, in Biryulyovo causes absolutely negative emotions of anyone who watches the video. It is another element of the depressing atmosphere which occurred in the Russian societya few weeks ago. Several strong men beat a helpless guy who is begging them to stop – the video seems to calm down the society, according to its authors. But a normal person feels only disgust.
Anyway, the events make us think about moral issues. Disputes on forums and blogs take the crime to the level of inter-ethnic conflicts. It seems the events in Russia develop in the worst way.
Representatives of four traditional confessions tried to bring people to their senses.
This part is devoted to the position by traditional Buddhist sangha of Russia, which is voiced by its permanent representative in Moscow Andrey Balzhirov, and the position by the Congress of Jewish Religious Fellowships and Organizations of Russia, which is voiced by Rabbi Zinovy Kogan.
“The events that occurred cause deep concerns. Of course, citizens should be socially and economically protected, should be sure of their future and security,” Sanjai Lama says. “I think the shadow economy plays a big role, because it is an engine of various stresses. I should note that the authorities responded to the events right in time and prevented inter-ethnic and inter-religious escalations. Of course, we discuss these issues in the Public Chamber, with Father Vsevolod and in the Interreligious Council. We discuss it a lot, gather commissions. Why does it happen? Migration is huge, because the regions have no economic or social or even household conditions for work. Conditions for work should be established so that the migration flow isn’t so huge. The shadow economy is a difficult thing. Some people gain profit from it, but society suffers.”
Rabbi Zinovy Kogan, vice president of the Congress of Jewish Religious Fellowships and Organizations of Russia, on communication with state and social organizations, thinks that stability of Russia depends on three things - family, the constitution, and anti-corruption education: “A family is an atom which builds up the federation. Improving family values and encouraging giving birth to babies are needed. We need roads, probably. We have fewer fools than good roads. We need good roads. Probably we need a lot of other things. Poor regions have poor communications with other regions. There is no metro in Biryulyovo because of the lack of resources. We need good roads there to get comfortably from Biryulyovo to the center of the city – then people could go to the theatres, stadiums and so on. Social justice requires communication.”
“Each of us should think: what can I personally do to prevent such massacres, to make Russia be a Russian civilization, rather than an imperialist or nationalist Russia. What can I do as a rabbi?” Kogan asks. “First of all, we should be one step ahead of the Special Police Force. Before they take arms, clergymen – mufti, rabbi or priest – should address people. A priest who is their own, he has baptized these young people, he reads burial services, they know him. He has to be well-known, like the head of a district. The executive municipal bodies should receive wider rights. At the same time, clergies should be more responsible. Then people would want to have a church or a mosque in their district… We should be the true authority, in the best sense of the word. We have the authority, but it should be confirmed every day. A church which has the greatest number of volunteers, which is trusted by many people, should act first.”
According to Kogan, “we shouldn’t have blotches on the body of our Russia. We are a united country. We are all similar, our own flesh and blood. Tatars in the Volga Region, Jews anywhere, Buddhists, Russians. Even when you come to Israel, those immigrants who left Russia long ago watch Russian TV daily. This is a fact. So, if we are our own flesh and blood, don’t try to split us.”
