Moscow Land Is Denied To Krishna

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Moscow Land Is Denied To Krishna

by Oleh Demchenko

 

Posted October 22, 2005

 

Some days ago, the mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov ceased agreement of

Moscow government to give land to ISKCON for construct a temple

complex. The motivation was that Moscow Office of Public Prosecutors

found a lot of infringements made during agreement's signing.

 

Now ISKCON has no land and no temple in Moscow. In 1990 Moscow

government had given two-storied building near Begovaya metropoliten

station. In the 2004 they agreed to give a new empty land in

Moscow's central part. First plans to build a huge temple complex

met a strong protest from Russian Orthodox Church and had to be

reviewed into smaller and more modest plans.

 

Russian Interfaith Council Secretary, Roman Silantyev says that this

decision of mayor ends attempts of ISKCON followers to build a

temple. "Hare Krishnas thought that they will buy government

officers. They thought that they are cult with huge sums of money

able to reach their goals and build their temples in the Moscow

center. We, believers, are fully endorsing this verdict our mayor" -

Silantyev said.

 

"The question about foundation of any temple of any confession

should be decided by inhabitants of that district in local self-

governing offices which we don't have in Russia. Here everything is

decreed by bureaucrats. This causes such problems" said Maxim

Shevchenko, religiologist. "The construction of such a huge exotic

pagan temple near sport stadiums, airport, trade centers is an

important issue which cannot be given at some officer's free will,

it's not a private question."