‘Priest with swastikas’: I reported work with Russian neo-Nazi group to Orthodox Metropolitan


Kanstantsin Burykin, a notorious Orthodox priest, appeared before Zavodzki district court in Minsk.

According to him, the weapons found by law enforcement officers at his home were presented to him by activists of the neo-Nazi group Russian National Unity (RNE). The priest was a spiritual mentor of the group.

 In November 2016, Orthodox priest Burykin, who never got theological education but headed a church in the village of Hatava near Minsk,  was arrested by the Belarusian Investigative Committee for illegal actions with regard to ammunition (Art.295-2 of the Criminal Code). Part 3 of the same article (repeated illegal actions with regard to ammunition, or collusive actions committed by a group of persons) has been added to the charges.

Burykin claims he regularly reported the details of his cooperation with Russian radicals to Metropolitan Filaret, the then head Orthodox Church in Belarus. When asked by whether he knew about the RNE ideology, Burykin said that in the beginning he did not see anything wrong in their activities, but after that the group became destructive, he suspended their contacts.

During a search in Burykin’s flat, policemen found, inter alia, the Third Reich military newsfilms and extremist materials. Moreover, it emerged that there was a chandelier in the shape of swastika and a picture Burykin painted in the style of the Third Reich. However, he has not been accused of inciting ethnic hatred. Still, the ex-priest may face up to 5 years of supervised release, or from 2 to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property.

Turn English subtitles on

The arrestee, who gained notoriety for his pro-Russian sentiment, was in contact with pro-Russian organization Rumol and the RNE, though it is still unknown whether he was a member of the latter. In 2014, media outlets revealed that the Orthodox priest had a tattooed swastika on his shoulder. Later Burykin reportedly renounced his former interests and hobbies.

 belsat.eu

TWITTER