Russian Orthodox clergy and traffic police in western Russia this weekend marched down a notoriously dangerous motorway on the eve of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
More than 20 thousand people die on the roads in Russia every year, according to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
The procession, held on a motorway between Temryuk and Krasnodar, was led by the Archpriest of the nearby St. Sergius of Radonezh church, the local Mitrapolia Kuban news site reported.
Joined by the head of the regional office for traffic safety, Alexander Kapustin, Archpriest Bogdan Chernykh led 200 state traffic police and parishioners of Krasnodar churches down one of the most dangerous stretches of the road, the state-run TASS news agency reported.
In a video of the procession, the marching officials sing to the tune of bells tolling from a mobile belfry.
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.