MOSCOW, November 4. /TASS/. Russia should prevent any provocations stemming from inter-confessional differences, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with representatives of religious communities on Wednesday.
"As we see, the situation in certain countries is complicated and we can see what the activities of various provocateurs, those who, under the cover of the freedom of expression, offend the feelings of believers and those who use it as an excuse to justify violence and intolerance might bring about," Putin said.
According to Putin, "the result is the same, as conflicts are growing in society as a snowball and they could be smoldering for years or decades."
"We should, must do our best together to rule out in principle such a scenario in our country," he said.
The Russian president believes that "Russia’s religious leaders play a special part in harmonization of interethnic and interreligious relations in order to prevent extremism and terrorism."
"People heed your opinion, your words and it is of particular importance when your unanimous position and well-defined adherence to the values of peace, goodness and mercy are voiced," Putin told the representatives of religious denominations.
He emphasized a "huge potential of religious organizations in the field of social service."
"Representatives of all faiths contribute to the joint fight against the spread of the dangerous disease (COVID-19). You get those united who do not stay indifferent and who, alongside the clergy, carry out noble volunteer work, support those who need help and care, regardless of either their ethnicity or faith," the president stressed.
Putin pointed out that "the clergy work and are very close to coronavirus patients and sometimes risk their own lives to support the neighbor."
"Regrettably, there are tragic cases when they do die and do this unselfishly in the line of their pastoral duty. For free, not for money," Putin added.
"The main thing for us is absolute value of each human life, and this choice is largely affected by the values which are the cornerstone of all the traditional religions in Russia, namely Orthodoxy and other Christian faiths, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism," the president said.
The Russian president congratulated the representatives of religious denominations on National Unity Day.
In his opinion, "it is deeply symbolic that this holiday was established on an initiative of Russia’s Interreligious Council."
"It is another proof that Russia’s historic path as a great power has been determined by a peaceful and fruitful cooperation among a variety of ethnicities and confessions," Putin stressed.