KARACHAYEVO-CHERKESSIA, Russia (ABP) — Political and religious leaders in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus denounced arson attacks on two Russian Orthodox churches and one Baptist church overnight on Nov. 1.
An Orthodox church in the village of Ordzhonikidzevsky in the province of Karachayevo-Cherkessia was nearly totally destroyed, according to Interfax, a news agency that covers business interests in Russia, China and emerging markets in Eurasia.
Two other churches in the nearby city of Karachaevsk were damaged but saved by night attendants. No one was injured in any of the blazes.
Authorities don't know who is responsible, but the attacks on churches appeared to be part of a growing Islamic insurgency seeking an independent state separate from predominantly Christian Russia, where they want to establish Islamic law.
Ismail Berdiev, the head of regional spiritual administration for Muslims, told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti he believed attempts to damage Christian churches were aimed at destabilizing the mixed Christian and Muslim society of the southern Russian republic.
"Whatever religion a person believes in, he won't raise his hand against a temple or a mosque alike, for both of them are houses of God," Berdiev said.
Archbishop Feofan of the Christian-majority cities of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz in the North Caucasus called the attacks "a well-planned provocation" but said they would not succeed in creating enmity between Orthodox and Muslim believers.
"It should by no means be said that the Muslims are to blame," he said. "You can't judge all people by individual incidents. Policemen are killed and so are muftis, but the way the attacks are orchestrated is the same. These are attempts to destabilize inter-religious peace, but they are futile."
President of Karachayevo-Cherkessia Boris Ebzeyev ordered immediate measures to prevent the burning down of churches.
"The president said that the criminals who torched the churches cannot be considered truly religious people," the presidential press service reported.
"There have not been any religious conflicts in Karachayevo-Cherkessia for centuries. Residents of our republic respect each other, and they respect religions, professed by their neighbors," Ebzeyev was quoted as saying.
The president said every measure would be taken "to prevent such evil deeds and to restore the churches."
Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.