Russian Orthodox Church ex-spokesman: Enemies of the nation can be killed
PR dla Zagranicy
Agnieszka Łaszczuk
17.08.2016 15:04
Vsevolod Chaplin, former spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church, has said in an interview with a Moscow-based radio station that "enemies of the nation can and should be killed."
Vsevolod Chaplin. Photo: The Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation/Wikimedia Commons.
In an interview with Echo of Moscow, the ultra-conservative priest said discussion is needed whether to reinstate death penalty in Russia, now suspended by a moratorium.
"It was not the right decision. God Himself clearly justifies [...] the elimination of large numbers of people to save others. Not to punish, but to make [people] come to their senses, to [bring in] discipline," Poland’s kresy24 website quoted Chaplin as saying.
"What is wrong with eliminating an internal enemy? Killing some people is possible and necessary," the kresy24 website cited him as saying.
Father Chaplin is known for highly controversial public statements.
At the World Russian People's Council in 2014, he said that Russia is capable of "defeating America and its supporters."
In a 2015 interview for the Russian News Service, Chaplin said that Russia has the right "to defend itself in any of the countries and regions of the world."
Vsevolod Chaplin had been the head of the church’s department for cooperation with society. He was dimissed from the post in December 2015.
Source: kresy24, Polskie Radio.