Kidnapping in Chechnya: Appeals by His Holiness the Patriarch

KIDNAPPING IN CHECHNYA: APPEALS BY HIS HOLINESS THE PATRIARCH

In connection with the kidnapping of Hieromonk Zechariah, Rector of the Church of St.Archangel Michael, and two of his associates in Grozny (see press release of 26 July 1999), His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sent letters to the President of the Russian Federation Boris N.Yeltsin, Chairman of the RF Government Sergey V.Stepashin, Minister of the Interior of the RF Vladimir B.Rushailo, General Secretary of the Council of Europe. Mr.Walter Schwimmer and Acting Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mr. Knut Vollebaek.

His Holiness asked them to do anything possible to release the workers of the Russian Orthodox Church who were kidnapped in Grozny.

He underlined the systematic character of kidnappers’ criminal actions and the fact that Orthodox clergymen often become their victims. ‘The chain of illegal actions must be broken’, – wrote His Holiness the Patriarch. Orthodox believers living in the Chechen Republic cannot be left without pastoral care.