Statement of the Communication Service of Moscow Patriarchate DECR in response to rumors alleging the Russian Church involvement in Oil-for-Food program

Certain media groups have reported recently that the Russian Orthodox church was allegedly mentioned in the report of the Independent Inquiry Committee (the so called Paul Volcker Report) presented in connection with the realization of the UN ‘Oil-for-Food program’.

The DECR MP Communication Service is authorized to state that these publications do not correspond to reality. The Russian Orthodox Church is not mentioned and cannot be mentioned in the report, because it did not participate in economic operations linked to the UN program.

In connection with the above we urge the mass media representatives not to distort facts and to be more responsible for their activity.