Mayor's office of Sochi: the conflict with Krishna worshippers is settled

Mayor of Sochi, law enforcement officers, the Cossacks and local organization of Society for Krishna Consciousness reached a consensus concerning the incident that took place during a religious procession of Krishna worshippers in the beach of Sochi. The conflict is settled, the participants of the meeting informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

It should be reminded that on September, 15, the Krishna worshippers were holding a "harinama" religious action (a procession along the streets with songs and dancing movements accompanied with distribution of sweets) in the neighbourhood of "Mayak" beach. The procession was stopped by the police and Cossacks accompanied by Chief of Central district Department of Interior Affairs of Sochi Gennady Toloknov and Mayor of Sochi Anatoly Pakhomov who declared that the action was unauthorized. One of the participants of "harinama" Konstantin Sklyarov was taken to a police bus and released 40 minutes later.

During a meeting on September, 19, in Central district police department of Sochi President of Sochi Society for Krishna Consciousness Igor Evstigneev and Chief of district Department of Interior Affairs colonel Gennady Toloknov discussed the conflict.

"We were holding an action according to Indian religious traditions common for our Society… Our organization has nothing to do with politics at all. We are not a sect. We study ancient Indian philosophical doctrines about human soul and the universe… Members of our organization were singing, dancing and wishing people well and happiness", Igor Evstigneev said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Evstigneev, Mayor of Sochi Anatoly Pakhomov who turned out at the scene of the ceremony "disliked it". He ordered to verify the organization's right of holding meetings and processions.

Mayor of Sochi evidently decided that the Krishna worshippers violated public order and told the police and the Cossacks to detain the participants of the ceremony, Evstigneev considers.

"Members of the organization showed the Mayor a letter of notification to the Administration but it did not satisfy him. In particular, in the opinion of Anatoly Nicolaevich, the participants of the action were obliged to have a special permission. About 20 people gathered round the Krishna worshippers. Some of them were wearing civilian attire, others had police uniforms on, there were also Cossacks among them. They introduced themselves and said that they were patrolling the embankment and guarding public order", Evstigneev said.

According to him, "the parties behaved quite correctly".

"Nobody beat or detained anyone using force. The participants of "harinama" were just asked to go to the bus standing in "Mayak" beach to clarify the circumstances… At that moment one of our friends Konstantin Sklyarov who is not member of the organization but supports it decided to stand up for Krishna worshippers considering their detention unfair and unlawful. Mayor of Sochi ordered to detain Konstantin", Evstigneev said.

Konstantin Sklyarov was released after a talk with the police personnel.

Evstigneev does not consider the events a serious conflict.

"I suppose Mayor of Sochi was excited just on September, 15. The "March of Millions" was announced all over the country. As a head of a world-famous city he most probably was excited not wishing any political actions to be held anywhere", Igor Evstigeev thinks.

Mayor of Sochi: any kind of processions must be not only notified but also authorized

"There is a law mandatory for observation by everyone. All kinds of processions must be not only notified but also authorized. People marched along the embankment. Their route had to be coordinated with the municipal Administration. But the Krishna worshippers did not produce any letter of authorization from the Administration. Therefore, the procession was illegal. At present there are no problems, the police had a talk with them", Anatoly Pakhomov said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The correspondent failed to contact Chief of Central district police department Gennady Toloknov who talked to Igor Evstgneev. Police Colonel Alexander Belozerov, Deputy Chief of Department of district police officers and Non-adult Affairs Department commented on the incident.

"The events that took place in Primorskya embankment on September, 15, are ambiguous. They were discussed by the police with the President of the organization. Anything not prohibited by the law is permitted in our country. A notification was submitted to the municipal Administration but no answer was received. Therefore, there was no prohibition of holding the action. The action passed off without violations of public order. So, upon Anatoly Pakhomov's statement there was just a talk and the circumstances were clarified", Alexander Belozerov explained.

Tatiana Katanidi, expert in interaction with public associations of Sochi Administration, said that she was not authorized to provide any comments without approval of the management. However, she explained that local religious organization Society for Krishna Consciousness was officially registered. The Administration had neither problems with this organization nor reasons for complaints.