International Orthodox Christian News

Moscow, March 4, Interfax – Priest Sergy Zvonariov, a member of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, proposed to draw up a list of high-ranking foreign politicians and state officials who should be forbidden to enter Russia.

"At the national level, we need to consider drawing the list of persona non grata, that is, those persons who we would not like to see in this country," Fr. Sergy said Wednesday at the meeting of the United Russia's state patriotic club.

The meeting was held on the following subject: "The denial of victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War (World War II) - is it a crime without punishment?"

Fr. Sergy stated that until such persons were in power and occupied high-ranking positions in their countries, it would be hardly reasonable to prosecute them for their statements denying the USSR's role in the victory over fascism.

However, the list of persona non grata would be a clear sign that their presence in this country was undesirable, the priest said.

He also supported Russia's aggressive and efficient government information policy on the international scene and mentioned that "we are losing this game so far."

Fr. Sergy said it's important to form social antagonism to "any attempts to tar the history of our people."

The participants of the meeting discussed the proposal made by Sergey Shoygu, Minister for Emergency Situations of Russia and Member of the Highest Board of United Russia, to impose criminal responsibility for denial of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.

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