Vyacheslav Woodenbridge: Svanidze criticized Tolstoy, that the destroyers of temples
Chairman of the state Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said that the pale in the Russian Empire was spread among the convicts. On Tuesday, January 24, reports TASS. So the MP commented on accusations of anti-Semitism against the Vice-speaker Peter Tolstoy.
“First, this term is not related only to the Jews. Second, it was applied to convicts, then again the question is, who was referring to the people,” — said Volodin.
He added that he is ready to meet with the leadership of the Federation of Jewish communities of Russia (FEOR), whose President, Alexander Boroda called the anti-Semitic words of Tolstoy, “Interfax”.
“We are in constant contact with the leadership of the Federation of Jewish communities, friendships and leadership, and with those who represent the community, I think that this problem just will not” — said the speaker of the Duma.
Tolstoy himself said that he does not mean any of the nationalities, commenting on the transfer of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg of the Russian Orthodox Church. “I think that these are the titles that came out on “Echo of Moscow” and in “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” — it just is anti-Semitism. Honestly I was greatly surprised,” — said the MP.
January 23, Vice-speaker of the Duma took part in a press-the conference devoted to change of status of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. There he said, “people who are the grandchildren of those who demolished our temples, jumped up from the pale of settlement with a revolver in the 17th year today, working in a variety of other very reputable places — on the radio, in the legislative assemblies, continue the work of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers”.
Pale of settlement existed in the Russian Empire in the late eighteenth century to the overthrow of the autocracy in 1917. This is the border of the territories, beyond which it was forbidden to live among the Jews and the Gypsies.
Hard labor as a form of punishment appeared in the Russian legislation under Peter I. the hard labour sentences of persons convicted of serious crimes (e.g. murder, rape, counterfeiting). In addition, therefore, to punish the participants of anti-government protests and those who campaigned for the overthrow of the existing order.
In March 1917 the Provisional government granted Amnesty to all convicts — 88 thousand people, including nearly six thousand prisoners politically. From 1921 to 1935 worked in the Soviet Union Society of former political convicts and exiles, many of whose members over time had been repressed.