Moscow temple crisis

[Jahnava Nitai Das 2]

Saw this elsewhere:

 

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Dear Devotees,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

 

We are sad to bring you a very bad news. On 7 October, the Mayor of Moscow

Yuriy Luzhkov cancelled the order issued by the Moscow Government one year

and a half ago according to which ISKCON Moscow was given a plot of land for

construction of a new temple instead of the old temple building.

 

The history of it was that our old temple was going to be pulled down

according to the new architectural plan for that area. We had that temple

for 14 years (it was on rent from the Government). After we were given a new

plot of land we were relocated there and constructed temporary facilities

for our operation investing here few hundred thousands of dollars.

 

Last Winter the office of the City Executive Attorney found some legal

discrepancies in the wording of the original order by Moscow Government and

suggested to it to revise it an issue a new, correct one.

 

Instead, now on that basis the Mayor cancelled the order altogether. This

was done without any explanation or consultation with us. His recent

document has two parts in it. The first one cancelled the previous order.

And according to the second one we have no right to stay on this territory

any more. This means, the we are now thrown out on the streets.

 

We are preparing the documents to file a legal case. We are also discussing

the possibility of having demonstrations and launching an international

campaign of protest.

 

Please pray for us! We may need your help when and if the plans for the

international campaign are ready. We will also definitely need a financial

help to hire good and influential lawyers. This may cost us as much as

$250,000 - $300,000. For this you can contact either us through PAMHO

yasomatinandana GKG or do it on-line at our site http://www.moscowtemple.org

 

If you want to be kept informed, please write to me on PAMHO.

 

On behalf of the Moscow Temple team

 

Your servant,

Yasomatinandana das,

Development Director, ISKCN Russia