Maria Anikina

Military judge says the “jury refuses to come to the courtroom with the press present.” Jurors refute the claim. Supreme Court should rule on the matter 1 December.

Tens of foreign and local journalists and ordinary Russian citizens want to follow the trial. The victim’s son, Ilya, complains the real culprits are not standing trial. Everyone suspects Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, but he has never been interrogated for the case.

Details about the murder have yet been made public. Police believe the two might have been killed by someone they knew, a Hispanic man who was drunk. The Vatican Press Office disagrees. The Moscow Orthodox Patriarchate and the Russian Mufti Council express their condolences.

Patriarch Aleksij I yesterday celebrated Palm Sunday in Moscow before a congregation of some 5,000 worshippers. More and more Russians identify with the Church (71 per cent) but many are just ‘Easter Believers’. Only 8 per cent of Russians are in fact regular church-goers.

In a letter published on the Moscow Patriarchate website, Aleksij II lays out the ground for a possible dialogue with Islam, namely the need to face common challenges that require joining forces. At the same time he insists that in any exchange the identity of each participant must be respected so as to avoid the danger of syncretism.

Surveys by a research institute reveal a population divided between pro- and anti-abortion forces. A growing number of people are considering the moral and religious implications of the interruption of pregnancy.

Former Soviet president says news reports about his move to Catholicism are false. Rumours that began circulating after he paid an unexpected visit to the St Francis of Assisi Basilica are pure “fantasies.”

The Blessed Teresa of Kolkata Church in Dzhalal-Abad has its windows broken and its notices torn down during Holy Triduum. Never the less, the local community still celebrates Easter in a young Church with few priests for the whole country.

A survey shows that 42 per cent of those interviewed considers themselves religious and that 16 per cent prays one or more times a day. For 45 percent the degree of influence the Church exerts on politics is satisfactory.

According to experts and leaders of the different communities, the manual contains numerous “errors of concept”, uses “xenophobic terminology” and is of a low “scientific standard”. The text even asks students “what problems has freedom for Catholics to spread their faith caused the country”.

Orthodox, Muslim, Buddhist and Jews launch an appeal urging believers to “do their duty” and turn out to vote. Only 4 of the 11 parties is likely to reach the quorum of 7 percent needed to enter the Duma. A large turnout could grant Putin’s Party the desired parliamentary majority.

Just days before the third anniversary of the massacre in the primary school, authorities declare the main group committed to shedding light on the tragedy illegal. “The Beslan Mothers” meanwhile ask that official investigations include video evidence which points the finger at Russian troops. Only 8% of the population trusts in the Government’s “truth”.