Cooperation between religious and public organizations discussed at the Presidential Library

The topic of preserving spiritual and moral values was the focus of the conference held on April 25, 2023 at the Presidential Library with the participation of representatives of traditional confessions represented in Leningrad Region.

The conference "Traditional Religions - the Spiritual and Moral Unity of Russia" was organized by the Administration of Leningrad Region in the context of the Decree of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin "On the Approval of the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values".

Representatives of all confessions, whose followers live in the 47th region, met at the same table in the Presidential Library, located in the historic building of the Senate and Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin and Lodeynoye Pole, Chairman of the Spiritual Board of Muslims Petersburg and the North-Western Region of Russia Ravil Pancheev, chairman of the Jewish community of the Great Choral Synagogue Mark Grubarg, lama of the St. Petersburg datsan Anton Shcheglov told about the inviolability of such moral values as the traditional family, love for the Fatherland, respect for the rights and freedoms of people of different nationalities and religions, and that Russia has the role of a stronghold of these values protected by any religion. The rector of the Bulgarian Islamic Academy Farhat Khusnutdinov, the lama of the Aginsky datsan Tsydyp Tudutov, the dean of the Buddhist University "Dashi Choynhorlin" Badma Markhaev addressed the participants by conference call.

A greeting from the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov was also read out.

According to Director General of the Presidential Library Yuri Nosov “the activity of the institution is inextricably linked with the satisfaction of the spiritual and moral needs of modern society. The electronic collections of the Presidential Library include documents and materials that tell about the past and present of traditional religions practiced by the inhabitants of Russia”.

The significance of the dialogue between the authorities and religious institutions was noted by Senator from Leningrad Region Sergey Perminov, Vice-Governor of Leningrad Region Anna Danilyuk, Chairman of the Public Chamber of the region Yuri Trusov, Rector of the Dorzhi Banzarov Aldar Damdinov Buryat State University, Deputy Head of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of the city Moscow Konstantin Blazhenov. Vyacheslav Sanin, Advisor to the Governor of Leningrad Region, moderated the discussion. On behalf of the organizer, for the fruitful discussion and support of the projects of the regional government, including assistance to the participants of the special military operation, Lira Burak, chairman of the committee on local self-government, interethnic and interfaith relations, thanked all the speakers. Representatives of religious organizations suggested holding such discussions on a regular basis.