November 28, 2024

Good Sharlot


Good Sharlot
Patriarch Kirill and Putin in 2021.  Kremlin.ru, Wikimedia Commons.

Patriarch Kirill, Russian Orthodox bishop and close ally of President Vladimir Putin, issued an officially forgiveness of the singer Eduard Sharlot for his insults against the Orthodox Church.

Sharlot, who has been outspoken against Russia's War on Ukraine, was arrested at Pulkovo Airport in 2023 for petty hooliganism. He is to face trial in 2025.

In videos shared on his Instagram account, Sharlot had expressed his dissent by showing himself burning his Russian passport, nailing his military ID and a photo of Patriarch Kirill to a crucifix, and tearing up a photo of a "Z." On November 24, 2023, it was reported that the Investigative Committee of the Samara Region had opened a criminal case against Sharlot under the article on "insulting the feelings of [Russian Orthodox] believers." 

Since his arrest, Sharlot has issued formal apologies to Putin and "all Russian people." He also wrote a letter requesting forgiveness from Patriarch Kirill and the Orthodox Church. So far, it is unclear if this religious pardon will have any affect on the freedom of this political prisoner

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