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Surkov Reappointed as Russia's Religious Affairs Chief

© RIA Novosti . Yana Lapikova / Go to the mediabankVladislav Surkov
Vladislav Surkov - Sputnik International
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Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov has been reappointed as chief of religious affairs issues in Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet.

Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov has been reappointed as chief of religious affairs issues in Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's cabinet, according to a statement on the government's website.

Surkov, the former influential Kremlin advisor, was appointed to the cabinet by then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin last year. He is widely believed by analysts to have been behind the creation of the controversial pro-Kremlin youth group, Nashi.

Surkov, 47, headed the cabinet's religious affairs commission from February through June this year before being replaced by Deputy Prime Minister Olga Gorodets.

Vedomosti daily cited government sources as saying Surkov's return to the post comes in response to a "difficult situation surrounding the leadership of traditional religions."

In the past few month, there has been a rise in the criticism of Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill and his backing for President Putin, as well as his perceived luxurious lifestyle.

Kirill has also been on the receiving end of much public anger over the controversial trial of three members of the all-female punk group Pussy Riot. The three women have been indicted with hooliganism over an anti-Putin protest performance in Moscow's largest church in March and may face lengthy jail terms.

There have also been several attacks on prominent Muslim figures, including the shooting dead of a top Muslim cleric in central Russia last month.

 

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