Russian Orthodox Church asks Federal Penitentiary Service to protect pedophile suspect Grozovsky - rights activist
MOSCOW. Sept 7 (Interfax) - The Russian Orthodox Church is concerned about the safety of priest Gleb Grozovsky, who is accused of pedophilia, and expects a fair trial of his case, Roman Silantyev, director of the Human Rights Center of the World Russian People's Council, said.
"I provided possible assistance through the Human Rights Center of the World Russian People's Council on the Grozovsky case; I made a number of requests. I have now contacted church representatives who are responsible for liaison with the Federal Penitentiary Service and asked them to help protect him," Silantyev told Interfax on Wednesday.
Silantyev said representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church "reacted positively" to his request.
Silantyev said the crime Grozovsky is accused of committing "normally draws aggression from inmates."
"We will now expect a fair trial of this case, which is more than probable, bearing in mind the public response it has drawn," he said.
It was reported that in February the Supreme Court of Israel issued a final ruling to extradite Grozovsky, accused of sexually abusing children, to Russia.
According to the inquiry, in the summer of 2011 Grozovsky, who was then a cleric at the Ascension (St. Sophia) cathedral in Tsarskoy Selo, sexually abused several individuals under 14 years of age on the grounds of an Orthodox children's camp on Konevets island, Priozyorsky district, Leningrad region.
According to the inquiry, Grozovsky committed similar acts at 'Philadelphia', an Orthodox children's and youth club, where he was head of the church of St. Martyr John the Warrior, in Greece in June 2013.
Since Grozovsky absconded, in October 2013 he was arrested in absentia and placed on the international wanted list. According to the priest himself, he was posted to Israel. In November 2013, the Gatchino diocese said it had terminated Grozovsky's posting and suspended him for the duration of the inquiry.