Russian coronavirus-denying ex-monk sentenced to seven years
Moscow, Russia AP A former Russian Orthodox monk, who denied that the coronavirus existed and defied the Kremlin, was handed a seven-year prison sentence Friday. Nikolai Romanov, 67, who was known as Father Sergiy until his excommunication by the Russian Orthodox Church, urged his followers to disobey the Russian Government’s lockdown measures and spread conspiracy […]
Russian coronavirus-denying monk given prison sentence
Moscow, Russia AP A rebel Russian monk who castigated the Kremlin and denied that the coronavirus existed was convicted Tuesday on accusations of encouraging suicides and given a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The monk, Father Sergiy, was arrested in December, 2020, on charges of inciting suicidal actions through sermons in which he urged believers to “die […]
Pope book backs George Floyd protests, blasts virus sceptic
AP Pope Francis is supporting demands for racial justice in the wake of the US police killing of George Floyd and is blasting COVID-19 sceptics and media organisations that spread their conspiracies in a new book penned during the Vatican’s coronavirus lockdown. In Let Us Dream, Francis also criticises populist politicians who whip up rallies […]
Russian monk who denies virus exists fined again
Moscow, RussiaAP A Russian court on Monday ordered an influential monk, who has denied the existence of the new coronavirus and urged his followers to ignore government lockdown orders, to pay a fine for fomenting enmity through his sermons. When contagion engulfed Russia, Father Sergiy declared the coronavirus non-existent and denounced government efforts to stem […]
Russian court fines coronavirus-denying rebel monk
Moscow, RussiaAP A Russian court on Tuesday fined a coronavirus-denying monk who has challenged Kremlin lockdown orders for spreading false information about the pandemic. The court in the Ural Mountains region ordered Father Sergiy to pay 90,000 rubles ($US1,250). The 65-year-old monk, who has attracted nationwide attention by urging followers to disobey church leadership and […]
Russian Orthodox Church defrocks coronavirus-denying monk
Moscow, RussiaAP The Russian Orthodox Church on Friday defrocked a coronavirus-denying monk who has defied Kremlin lockdown orders and taken control of a monastery. A church panel in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg ruled to defrock 65-year-old Father Sergiy, who has attracted nationwide attention by urging believers to disobey church leadership and ignore church […]