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Russia: Putin Causes Uproar After Controversial Comparison Between Christian Holy Relics And Lenin's Embalmed Corpse
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Moscow - Russia President Vladimir Putin came under criticism from rights activists on Tuesday after he compared Vladimir Lenin's embalmed corpse to the holy relics of Christian saints.
In a speech on Monday before a group of supporters, Putin spoke against the idea of removing Lenin's mausoleum from Red Square in Moscow where his corpse is housed.
"Many say the mausoleum contradicts traditions. What contradicts traditions? Go to the Kiev Caves Monastery [in Ukraine] or look at [Russia's] Pskov monastery or Mount Athos [in Greece].
There are relics of saints there. You can see everything there," Putin said. [link to www.news24.com]
The fate of Lenin's embalmed corpse, that since his death in 1924 lies in the Mausoleum in Red Square, has become an issue in post-communist Christian Russia and the debates on whether should be finally buried or not are still ongoing and some times heated. Whether it's going to be a Christian burial is also being discussed. Russian Orthodox Church has urged against rushed decisions on the matter in 2011, although they were favoring a burial in 2005. The Russian Orthodox Church has come up with an initiative to check the works of Lenin for extremism this year comparing it with nazism propaganda which is banned in Russia, as it justifies mass repressions against innocent people.
2011: "It is obvious that the condition of Lenin's body does not fit into Russia's cultural tradition...but we should take into account the opinions of various social groups and avoid making decisions that entail social upheavals," the chairman of the Synodal Department for Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said. [link to en.rian.ru]
2005: A top Russian Orthodox official said Tuesday that the country's dominant church believes the body of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin should be removed from display in a Red Square mausoleum and buried. Church suggested that a national referendum might be the right way to decide the fate of Lenin's body. [link to english.pravda.ru]
Red terror: Church wants Lenin inspected for extremism [link to rt.com]
On the other hand: Russian Orthodox organizations, and nationalist and patriotic movements have formed a joint organizing committee that will lodge petitions with courts and the Prosecutor's Office, demanding the burial of Bolshevik Revolution leader Vladimir Lenin's body, Russkiye movement head Dmitry Dyomushkin told Interfax. [link to rbth.ru]
According to a recent survey the number of those supporting the idea of burying Lenin’s body has grown 10 percent over the past six years, reaching 56 percent. Only 28 percent of respondents said Lenin’s body should be left in the mausoleum.
Last year Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, a member of the ruling United Russia party, argued for burying Lenin, whom he described as “a highly controversial political figure.” “Having him as a central figure in a necropolis at the heart of our country is sheer nonsense,” Medinsky was quoted by United Russia’s press service as saying. [link to rbth.ru]
According to a bioethics research institute that argues the rights of the dead, Lenin's body was supposed to be put on display only for 40 days, but Stalin decided to make the display permanent, Lenin himself wanted to be buried near his mother and his widow also opposed his preservation, but Stalin overruled their wishes. [link to www.thehastingscenter.org]
I'm sure Vlad was like:'Why did i have to say that?'
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