Vladimir Rozanskij

The official mourning period for Malikguly Berdymuhamedov, father of president Gurbanguly, has just concluded. State officials and company executives are required to shave their heads and wear the takhja, the national headdress. Women forced to wear long shawls with black braids. Anyone who does not comply is fired. The president's mother, Ogulabat Kurraeva, exalted as a weaver, despising sewing machines.

Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, the church was built in the late 1800s. It was closed in 1936 and its parish priest, Father Ignat Žolnerovič, was sent to a gulag. During the Soviet era it was first used as the NKVD’s archives, then as the Region’s archives. Catholics have been asking for its return for the past 30 years and are willing to pay for its restoration costs.

By June, 600 inmates will lay railroad tracks between Lake Baikal and the Amur River. The use of detainees appeared necessary after the collapse of migrations of Kyrgyz and Tajik seasonal workers. At least 15,000 workers will be needed. Meanwhile, discussions are being held on the "ecological clean-up" project of the Arctic Circle. Members of Putin's party denounce a possible return to the Stalinist system.

Failure to define the borders between the two Caucasian countries risks separating Armenia from Iran. Tensions mount between Yerevan and Baku, between Tehran and the Russian and Turkish "peacekeepers". Zarif makes desperate bid to save Rouhani.

The police interrupted a pre-election congress citing anti-Covid "health" reasons. Congress was to build electoral alliances to counter Putin's United Russia party. In mid-March, another Forum was blocked in Moscow. The "territory vote" to aid the "smart vote" of Naval'nyj supporters. But the authorities seem to want to stifle any opposition.

The two evangelizers, celebrated yesterday, used a "Christian alphabet" to unite different peoples, overcoming the prejudice between "Greeks" and "barbarians". President Vladimir Putin Best sends best wishes to Patriarch Kirill.

For Metropolitan Sergey, the Russian Orthodox Church is ready for the mission in Asia. The metropolitan see includes four dioceses and 70 parishes in 13 countries. Sergey spoke about encountering various cultures, getting involved in Papua New Guinea, and opening charities in the Philippines and Vietnam. Orthodox priests can now be trained in Davao (Philippines). Pastoral courses are offered on Phuket island (Thailand).

The development of the Armed Forces will guarantee the integrity of the Russian territory. The Russian president's usual pattern: flaunt the external threat to deflect from great internal problems of the country. USA and China current targets. Difficult to "scratch" the incisors of Xi Jinping. Putin channels Ivan the Terrible.

He was the leader of dissent in the years of Brezhnev and Gorbachev. As a nuclear physicist, he gave the USSR enormous military power, and as a dissident he taught that there are rights beyond power. On a smaller scale, Alexei Naval'nyj seems to repeat history: one man alone against the almighty state. Valeria Novodvorskaja: Sakharov fought for the same cause as Jesus Christ, the first defender of human rights.

Work has begun on two nuclear power plants and will be completed by 2028. "Golden visas" for Chinese entrepreneurs, with facilitated taxation. Over the past 15 years, Chinese private investment in Russia has reached $ 56 billion.

In the city of Dmani, a quarrel has turned into a brawl and struggle between the Christian and Muslim communities. The city is on the road between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The intervention of the Mufti of Eastern Georgia and the representative of the Patriarchate of Georgia was decisive. Inter-ethnic struggles, a legacy of the Soviet past.

Since the end of the Soviet regime, the works of ecclesial "mercy" have flourished throughout Russian society: hostels, palliative care, help for the disabled and the sick, homes for the homeless, humanitarian aid. The Russian Church now boasts over 4,500 charitable projects, including 77 hostels for pregnant women and young single mothers. Kirill: "We ask women not to have an abortion, but to donate their children to the Orthodox Church". About 70% of the population declares themselves ready to support patriarchal structures in works of mercy, especially in the youth range between 18 and 24 years old.