A man in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk attempted to burn down his local church after clergy refused to let him attend a service drunk, local police have reported.
Staff at the city's Church of the Nativity turned the man away on Wednesday night when they realized he was heavily intoxicated, the Taiga.info news site reported.
The 49-year-old left the church before returning later that night to douse the door of the building with gasoline and set it alight.
Witnesses saw the blaze and called for help to stop the flames from spreading, Taiga.info reported. No one was hurt in the incident.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
