Ruslan Abdullin: “The march participants will pass through the lives of four civilizations”

Interview by Timur Utsoyev, Grozny. Exclusively to VK

Grozny welcomes the March of Peace and Agreement between Muslims and Christians. Pilgrims have started foot journey through the North Caucasus, Georgia, Turkey, and the Middle East. The whole length of the way is 6337 km. 4800 km participants will ride a bus, and 1537 km they will go on foot. 15 pilgrims have left the capital of Chechnya. On the way participants from Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and Kazakhstan will join them. The executive director of the Marsh, academician Ruslan Abdullin told VK about objectives and peculiarities of the arrangement.

-    What was the reason for undertaking the joint Marsh of Peace?

-    This initiative started several years ago. We began preparation of the Marsh of Peace and Agreement between representatives of various religions. In fact this Marsh takes place within international and inter-confessional tourism. It was no analogues. That is why it is important that the movement begins in Chechnya. It is a symbol that peace and agreement between people of various religions, various ethnic groups will always be in the North Caucasus. In previous years the marshes took place only in Kazakhstan and only with participation of Muslims. They didn’t have an international status. Today we have sent letters to federal bodies of Russia and suggested development of pilgrim tourism from the North Caucasus, Chechnya, and Ingushetia. People will have an opportunity to walk together to sacred places. They will pray and stay pure. At the same time, they will watch the world, visit museums, monuments, cities. Participants of the Marsh will pass through living of four civilizations.

-    Who are participants of the Marsh? How were people invited?

-    We were aimed at invitation of faithful people. A faithful person understands God’s laws. There were many candidates – more than 90 people. Three Orthodox believers, 11 Muslims, and one person who hasn’t decide on his preferences in religion are included in the group. The oldest participant is 60-year-old resident of Kazan, the youngest is 15 years old, he is from Grozny.

-    How difficult is the route for pilgrims? What is its geography?

-    We plan to pass 27 km a day. At first we will visit Ingushetia, then Ossetia. After them we will pass Georgia. In each city we plan to undertake programs within cultural exchange between five civilizations – Slavic, Turk, Caucasian, Turkish, and Arabian. In three months we will visit Chechnya, Ingushetia, Ossetia, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. From Batumi to Istanbul we will ride a bus, and then the foot walk will continue through Ankara. The finish is in 60km from the town of Adan near the Mediterranean Sea. The initiators know the whole route, as we have passed it. Of course pilgrims will have breaks and hot meals. We exactly know where they will appear at certain time and who will meet them.

All expenses for the Marsh are covered by the pilgrims. No political parties, structures, or religious, union, and political organizations stand behind them. We have no political slogans.

-    What is the role of religion in inter-ethnic relations?

-    On May 31, 2012, the fourth session of the world traditional religions took place in Astana. The initiator of it is President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. Leaders of confessions expressed readiness to cooperate. It was officially stated by Patriarch Kirill, chairman of the Muftis Council of Russia, Ravil Gainutdin, and guests from Israel and other places. I think we should move forward and consolidate common faithful people. All religions require purity of intentions, purity of spirit and body. The aim of our religious marsh is to unite faithful people of various religions, their informal leaders to make them walk as one family where each person maintains his religion. Purity of their intentions should spread on peoples and lead to agreement between religions in social minds.