Racist interview with Pope Francis sparks fury in Russia | Pope Francis

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Pope Francis has sparked fury in Russia following an interview in which he suggested that Chechen and Buryat members of his armed forces have shown more cruelty in Ukraine than ethnic Russian soldiers.

In an interview with Catholic magazine America published on Monday, the pope said soldiers from Buryatia, where Buddhism is a major religion, and the Muslim-majority republic of Chechnya, were the cruellest when fighting in Ukraine.

Generally, perhaps the most cruel are those who are from Russia but are not of Russian tradition, such as Chechens, Buryats, etc., he said.

Russia has relied disproportionately on ethnic minorities to provide its main fighting force in Ukraine.

Human rights groups and independent media have documented overwhelming evidence of war crimes committed by Russian forces, but there is no data to suggest that national minority soldiers fighting in Ukraine fared worse in Ukraine. than ethnic Russian members.

The pope’s comments were swiftly condemned by Russian officials on Monday evening.

It’s not Russophobia anymore, it’s perversion on a level I can’t even name, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on her Telegram channel.

We are one family with Buryats, Chechens and other representatives of our multinational and multi-confessional country, Zakharova added.

Alexandra Garmazhapova, the founder of the anti-war organization Free Buryatia, called the comments inexcusable and racist.

I was extremely disappointed to read these racist and inexcusable statements, said Garmazhapova.

Russia is waging an imperial war started and led by Vladimir Putin, who is obviously not a member of an ethnic minority. The pope should condemn him personally, but he decided to avoid the Russian president.

Let’s not forget that the Russian Orthodox Church is one of the biggest supporters of the war, Garmazhapova added, referring to the public support for the war by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

Garmazhapova also pointed to a Ukrainian investigation that identified a group of ethnic Russian soldiers as prime suspects in the killing of civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha last spring.

These comments are wrong on so many levels, she said.

This is not the first time the pope has faced controversy over his views on Ukraine. Kiev has repeatedly criticized the head of the Catholic Church since the start of the Russian invasion in February for failing to adequately condemn the Kremlin for its role in the conflict.

Francis has also previously said that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine may have been instigated in some way by the West, citing an earlier conversation with an unnamed head of state who feared that the nato is barking at Russia’s doors in a way that could lead to war.

In an apparent rebuke to accusations of not criticizing Putin directly, the pope told America magazine: Sometimes I try not to specify so as not to offend and rather condemn in general, although it is well known who I am condemning. . It is not necessary that I put a first and last name.

He continued: Why don’t I nominate Putin? Because it is not necessary; it is already known. However, sometimes people cling to a detail. Everyone knows my position, with Putin or without Putin, without naming him.

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