European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. (Credit: THIX Photo)
On 18 July 2024, the European Court of Human Rights examined nine complaints filed by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia who were subjected to illegal searches, arrests, and convictions because of their religious beliefs. The Russian Federation is obliged to pay 156,000 euros as financial compensation compensation and 4,000 euros in legal costs to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Valeriy Moskalenko paid the fine imposed on him. Irina Buglak continues to serve a suspended sentence. Dmitriy Barmakin, sentenced to eight years in prison, is awaiting his transfer to a penal colony. And the case of Roman Makhnev is expected to go to court soon.
According to the ECHR decision, the Russian Federation violated three provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in relation to the applicants.
Thus, the court called the detention of the believers in metal cages during the hearings a manifestation of degrading treatment (Article 3), and considered detention, searches and seizure of property ungrounded and illegal (Article 5). The ECHR also found that the applicants had been subjected to arbitrary criminal prosecution merely for practicing their faith, which was in violation of the Article on Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion (Article 9).
Russia ceased to be a party to the European Convention on Human Rights on September 16, 2022, but the consideration of these complaints is still within the jurisdiction of the ECHR because they cover incidents that took place in 2018-2020.
A backlog of over 3,600,000 EUR fines decreed by the ECHR still unpaid to Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Russian Federation remains obliged to pay the financial compensation to the believers, including under other decisions of the European Court. The total amount already exceeds 3,600,000 euros.
On June 7, 2022, the ECHR declared illegal
the liquidation of the administrative center and another 395 legal entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses by Russia,
the ban on their activities,
the seizure of property,
the prohibition of printing their publications and
The decision was issued in the case “Taganrog LRO and others v. Russia”, in 2022, in which a total of 20 complaints filed by Jehovah’s Witnesses from 2010 to 2019 were combined.
The total number of applicants was 1444, of which 1014 are individuals and 430 are legal entities (some applicants appear in more than one complaint). According to the ruling, in total, Russian Federation is obliged to pay the applicants EUR 3,447,250 in respect of non-pecuniary damage and to return the seized property (or pay EUR 59,617,458).
By its actions, Russia violated the provisions of several articles of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: right of personal freedom (Article 5), freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 9), freedom of expression (Article 10) and freedom of assembly and association (Article 11). In addition, Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 (the right to respect for property) was violated.
Yaroslav Sivulsky of the European Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses said: “We are grateful to the Strasbourg Court for its authoritative qualified legal understanding of the unprecedented situation that has developed in Russia with Jehovah’s Witnesses. We hope that today’s ruling will help the Russian authorities to restore the rule of law and rights in relation to more than 175,000 believers of our religion in the near future.”
After the era of Soviet repressions had ended in the early 1990s, Jehovah’s Witnesses received official registration in Russia in 1992. Thereafter, their meetings for worship were attended by up to 290,000 people. In 2017, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation liquidated all legal entities and confiscated hundreds of religious buildings. Police crackdowns and searches started again and hundreds of believers were sent to jail for years.
The Greek police have sent a letter to the Holy Kinotis (the community of representatives of the 20 Athos monasteries that make up the leadership of Mount Athos) asking for assistance in complying with a court order to release the Esphygmen Monastery, which has been held by schismatics for several decades .
Kinotis discussed the letter from the Greek police and asked for further information on how the operation would proceed, as well as assurances that there would be no incidents similar to those of 2013 or of December 2006, when footage of bloodied monks from the old and new brotherhood of the “Esphigmen” was circulated by the media, and wounded on both sides were hospitalized after a fierce battle. It was decided to ask the Police Directorate of Athos to clarify its request regarding monasteries to host a large number of police officers for a long period of time, as well as to clarify exactly what the police mean about the use of the roads and the passage of large vehicles on them.
Meanwhile, the deadlines, at least for this period, are very short. Enforcement is prohibited for the period from August 1 to 31, as provided for in the Greek Code of Civil Procedure, so any action by the bailiff to vacate the buildings can be taken until next Wednesday, July 31. Otherwise, the procedure will be repeated from September onwards.
This was reached after two decisions of Greek courts – the Court of First Instance of the regional city of Poligiros in 2018 regarding real estate owned by the schismatics, and the Court of Appeal of Thessaloniki in 2020 regarding movable property. The two decisions were appealed by the Zealots at the Esphygmen Monastery, but the requests for annulment were rejected and made final by a decision of the Supreme Court in June 2023. Now a bailiff has taken over the execution of the decisions, and the Police Directorate of Athos is asking for assistance to that the judgments of the court may be executed and the buildings of “Esphigmen” may be vacated.
So far, the state has made many attempts to restore order on the Holy Mountain, the most dramatic being the attempt in 2013, when it came to incidents. The schismatic monks threw Molotov cocktails at the bailiff and the team that smashed the entrance to the Konak (the monastery’s representative office in Kareia, the administrative center of Athos) of Esphygmen using heavy machinery. These incidents resulted in several monks being sentenced to years in prison, and among those convicted was the abbot of the Zealots, Methodius.
According to the statutes of the Holy Mountain, schismatics who are not part of the canonical Orthodox Church cannot rule any of the twenty monasteries. At the same time, in the monastic republic there are separate Zealot cells inhabited by monks who are not in communion with the canonical Church and are part of various old-calendar factions. The Esphygmen Monastery was officially declared schismatic in 2002 and has since become a banner of the “church resistance” of various movements – Old Calendarists protesting against the ecumenism of the Ecumenical Patriarch, COVID-dissidents, opponents of the “official church” from all Orthodox countries, supporters of the so-called non-systemic parties, populist political movements, etc. His “Orthodoxy or Death” black flag, raised in 1974, became a byword for religious fanaticism. Any attempt to restore order on Athos was met with reactions “in defense of the persecuted for the faith” in Athens and outside Greece. Such a wave of sympathy for the Zealots in “Esphygmen” is now also rising in Russian media, because it is an opportunity for another attack on the Ecumenical Patriarchate, without mentioning that the Esphygmen monks are not in church communion with any local church, including and with the Russian Orthodox Church. The case is used by the zealots themselves as another opportunity to reinforce their image as “confessors”, an image that religious people are very sympathetic to.
Already in October 2022, the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini” wrote about a police investigation in connection with Russian money transfers to private accounts of Mount Athos
The Anti-Money Laundering Department then investigated suspicious money transfers from abroad to individual accounts of monks from Mount Athos. In 2022, the case developed without much fanfare, with a new development received after the start of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by the West on individuals and legal entities associated with the Kremlin, which has traditionally maintained close ties with the monastic republic.
A source of the publication familiar with the matter revealed that there are at least twenty transactions that in the last twelve months are considered suspicious and are being investigated by the officials of the service. It is about the movement of large sums of money from banks and foreign money transfer companies, and the money ends up not in the accounts of monasteries, which in the recent past were visited by high-ranking Russian officials, but in the individual accounts of monks from Mount Athos. Competent sources explain that these transactions were considered suspicious by credit institutions in the country mainly because they involved transfers of unusually large sums amounting to tens and even hundreds of thousands of euros. In one case, a transfer of more than one million euros was discovered, but the investigation concluded that the money was intended to finance a mission in Africa.
Most of the money transfers investigated are related to funds coming from Russia. The newspaper’s sources clarified that the money found in the monks’ accounts did not come from legal entities or individuals that have been subject to war-related sanctions since February last year. One of the scenarios being considered is that wealthy Russians have decided to move their money out of Russia with the help of Athos monks to preserve their funds in the event of a collapse of their country’s financial institutions or even a freeze on their funds by Kremlin because of the war.
For the same reason, in recent months a number of Russians have undertaken or expressed interest in buying properties in Greece.
“No evidence has emerged to fully corroborate the information that the transactions are part of a broader, organized effort by Russia to infiltrate the Holy Mountain,” a knowledgeable source said. “These efforts are taking place mainly through business circles and political circles,” he added, referring to the recent data of the US intelligence services on the transfer of three hundred million dollars from Russia to parties and politicians in Greece since 2014.
In addition to the funds of Russian origin, several of the cash deposits of monks from Mount Athos, which are the subject of the investigation by the Anti-Money Laundering Department, were made by people from Balkan countries, mainly Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. The auditors do not exclude the possibility that this is money from illegal activities that is legalized in the form of donations to the monks.
On July 23, 2024, Archdeacon Andrey Kuraev was admitted to the clergy of the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Lithuania in response to his request, according to an official announcement of the Exarchate. Specifically, it says:
“Archdeacon Andrei, born in 1963, is a famous theologian and missionary, author of many books and doctor of philosophy and theology. During his more than thirty years of ministry, he has brought many people to Christ. Since 2013, because of his criticism of the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate and against Patriarch Kirill, he has been subject to various repressions by the Church and the Russian state. For condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine, the cleric was fined twice and declared a “foreign agent”. In 2023, Patriarch Kirill deprived him of his holy rank, but in April 2024, the Ecumenical Patriarch accepted his appeal and, after examining the basis of the accusation, decided that Archdeacon Andrey Kuraev was deprived of his holy rank not for religious, but for political reasons reasons, in connection with which Fr. Andrei was restored in the same condition. He will continue his clerical ministry as Archdeacon of the Lithuanian Exarchate. Archdeacon Andrey Kuraev will continue his church service as a missionary and will not be tied to any parish, but will continue to preach the Gospel in different cities and countries, observing church rules.”
The Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Lithuania was registered at the beginning of 2024. The establishment of this ecclesiastical jurisdiction came about after Vilnius Metropolitan Innokenty (ROC) removed under pressure from Moscow five priests, until then his close associates, because of their public opposition to the pro-war policy of the Moscow Patriarchate. They were also among the first priests deprived of their rank for this reason, who filed a complaint with the Ecumenical Patriarch and were restored to ministry. Later, they were joined by other priests from Belarus and Russia.
Currently, the Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Lithuania does not have its own bishop, and its exarch is Fr. Justin Kiviloo, who is originally from Estonia.
Meanwhile, according to information on his personal page, the former cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church Peter (Eremeev) became a cleric of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on May 1, 2024.
Peter (in the world Ruslan Nikolaevich Eremeev; born December 2, 1973, Armavir, Krasnodar Krai) is an Orthodox cleric. From December 6, 1998 to March 11, 2024 – a cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church. From April 3, 2024 to April 30, 2024 – a cleric of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. From May 1, 2024 – a cleric of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Doctor of Theology (2004). Rector of the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Theologian (2010-2021). Abbot of the Vysoko-Petrovsky Stavropegic Monastery (2013-2021). Chairman of the Commission for Work with Universities and the Scientific Community under the Diocesan Council of the City of Moscow (2019-2021). Rector of the Church of the Resurrection of the Word at the Vagankovskoye Cemetery (2013-2023). Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission on the Education of Monastics of the Russian Orthodox Church (2016-2024). Editor-in-chief of the official periodical of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism – the magazine “Monastic Herald” (2014-2024).
Ban from priesthood and defrocking in the Moscow Patriarchate
On November 9, 2023, he was dismissed by the patriarch from the post of acting rector of the Church of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki in the village of Dmitrovskoye, Krasnogorsk District, Moscow Region. According to the information contained in the appeal of the employees and parishioners of the church in Dmitrovskoye to Patriarch Kirill, the pretext for the removal of the rector was the imitation of the disappearance of icons from the church, organized by Abbess Xenia (Chernega). As a result, Chernega took Yeremeyev’s place. On December 22 of the same year, during an official business trip to Bulgaria, carried out with the blessing of the Patriarch, he was removed from the post of rector of the Church of the Resurrection of the Word at the Vagankovskoye Cemetery and banned from serving. Publications about violations in the parishes of the abbot began to appear on the Internet. In May 2024, Peter (Yeremeyev) himself rejected all accusations: “My obligations to the Moscow Diocese were fully fulfilled by the end of 2023. I transferred the affairs of the Church of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki in Dmitrovskoye and the affairs of the newly built church complex on Nikolina Gora, as well as the affairs of the Church of the Resurrection of the Word at the Vagankovskoye Cemetery to the newly appointed rectors. The Audit Commission of the Moscow Diocese conducted an audit of the financial, property and other aspects of the parish activities and drew up the required acts of acceptance and transfer of the churches. There were no comments on the part of the Audit Commission and the new rectors regarding the results of the audit and transfer of cases.” However, on February 8, 2024, by decision of the diocesan court of the city of Moscow, he was defrocked, citing the fact that Abbot Peter ignored three summonses to court. The decision was to come into force after approval by Patriarch Kirill. By Decree of Patriarch Kirill No. U-02/39 of March 11, 2024, the court decision came into force. According to the statement of Hegumen Peter (Eremeev): “none of the three indicated summonses to the church court were sent to me: not to my passport registration address, not to my email, not to my public messengers on social networks.” Having called the decision illegal, he appealed it to the court of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
In April 2024, the court of the Patriarchate of Constantinople positively considered the appeal of Hegumen Peter, after which he was accepted into the clergy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. This did not become known immediately.
On April 20, 2024, he was seen co-serving with the bishops and clergy of the Plovdiv Diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Among those attending the service were Metropolitan Nikolay (Sevastianov) of Plovdiv, vicar bishops Arseny (Lazarov) and Vissarion (Grivov).
After receiving the letter of release, the abbot was accepted into the staff of the Plovdiv Metropolitanate.
Illustrative photo: Orthodox icon “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”
On July 28th Russian Patriarch Kirill awarded Vladimir Putin with the Church Order “St. Alexander Nevsky – First Class” in St. Petersburg, expressing his satisfaction with the complete agreement between the church and the authorities in Russia, informes Interfax.ru. On the day of the president’s name day, he declared that Putin is “the first truly Orthodox president of Russia.” The patriarch expressed his joy that the two “share the responsibility for the development of the country today”, which, according to him, is very positive,. “Today, the government and the church together strengthen traditional values and contribute to the patriotic education of the youth,” said the Russian Patriarch.
Patriarch Kirill also congratulated Putin on the Day of the Baptism of Rus, which is celebrated in Russia on July 28.
The Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky is a general ecclesiastical award of the Russian Orthodox Church, is included in the list of the highest orders of the Russian Orthodox Church and is the fifth highest order of the Russian Orthodox Church. The order’s motto is “God is not in might, but in truth.” The order has three degrees. The Order was established by decree of Patriarch Kirill and the Holy Synod on April 13, 2021, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The Order of Alexander Nevsky is awarded to: military personnel, diplomats, statesmen, clergy, monastics and laymen who have made an outstanding contribution to the defense and prosperity of the Fatherland, to the strengthening of peace and harmony between the peoples living in it, to the development of interstate relations relations, the external relations of the Russian Orthodox Church and who also made an outstanding personal contribution to the perpetuation of the feat of the noble prince, including the construction of temples and other monuments associated with his name.
Photo: Prince Alexander Nevsky. Miniature from the Tsarskiy titulyarnik (Tsar’s Book of Titles).
Note: Prince Alexander Nevsky (1221-1263) at different times had the titles of prince of Novgorod, Kiev, and later – grand prince of Vladimir. He received the nickname Nevsky after his victory over the Swedish army in the battle of July 15, 1240. He won many military victories and also became famous as a politician and diplomat. In 1547, Alexander Nevsky was canonized as a saint.
Paris, July 28, 2024 – In a thrilling display of tennis, Rafael Nadal proved why he’s a hero in the City of Love, overcoming a spirited challenge from Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics to win 1-6, 6-4, 4-6. The victory sets up a mouth-watering encounter with arch-rival Novak Djokovic in the second round, a match that promises to be a highlight of the Games.
As Nadal stepped onto the Philippe Chatrier court, the crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers and applause, echoing the reception he received earlier at La Defense Arena. The Spanish tennis legend may not be a national hero in France, but he’s undoubtedly a beloved figure in Paris, where his passion and dedication to the sport have won over the hearts of fans.
Nadal’s entry onto the court was nothing short of spectacular, with the 38-year-old powerhouse seeking to dominate the lines and push his opponent to the limit. Fucsovics, ranked 83rd in the world, struggled to cope with Nadal’s intensity, but he refused to back down. The Hungarian upped his game in the second set, taking more risks and pushing Nadal to his limits.
As the match wore on, it became clear that Nadal was not at his physical best, with his body language betraying signs of fatigue. However, his mental toughness and experience ultimately proved decisive. After Fucsovics leveled the match at one set apiece, Nadal regrouped and refocused, securing the crucial break in the fifth game of the third set.
The crowd, packed into the Roland Garros stadium, erupted in a frenzy of cheers as Nadal closed out the match. It was a testament to the enduring love affair between Nadal and the City of Paris, a romance that shows no signs of fading. As he prepares to face Djokovic in the next round, Nadal knows that he’ll need to dig deep and summon every last ounce of energy to overcome his rival. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter, one that promises to be an unforgettable highlight of the Games.
Paris 2024 Games – On Friday 26 July, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 broke out of the stadium to take over the heart of the city for the first time in history. Participating delegations paraded along the Seine in front of hundreds of thousands of people gathered along the banks. Athletes, spectators and TV viewers were treated to a grandiose show, lit up by the performances of Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura and Céline Dion. At the end of what was of an immersive spectacle conceived by Artistic Director Thomas Jolly, and following a final ‘team relay’ segment, featuring French and global sports legends, Marie-José Pérec and Teddy Riner set the Cauldron ablaze before it took off to light up the skies over Paris. The Paris 2024 Games are officially open!
For the first time ever, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games broke out of the stadium, taking over the heart of the host city to the delight of hundreds of thousands of people. With hundreds of thousands of spectators in attendance, never before has an opening ceremony been so open to the public.
Paris, its iconic monuments and the Seine presented an extraordinary setting and aesthetics for what was a 360-degree show conceived by Thomas Jolly. On the quays, the bridges, and even under the Seine, spectators had to keep more than one eye out. As promised, the show, the athletes’ parade and protocol speeches merged together. During the ceremony, a mysterious masked torchbearer led the entire world through this amazing voyage along the river Seine.
Before they turn their attention to competing for Olympic medals, 6,800 athletes had the opportunity to experience an unprecedented Opening Ceremony, filled with excitement, humour and audacity. They will undoubtedly take away a few highlights from this historic evening.
JAMEL DEBBOUZE TAKES THE TORCH TO THE STADE DE FRANCE, ZINEDINE ZIDANE BRINGS IT BACK TOWARDS THE SEINE
In the first touch of humour to set the tone for the evening, Jamel Debbouze initially thought it was a bad joke when he discovered the Stade de France was completely empty. Carrying the Flame, he thought he was launching the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with great fanfare before his idol made him realise his mistake.
Zinédine Zidane, a legend of French and world football, had returned to his home field in Saint-Denis, where he set the stadium on fire scoring twice in the 1998 World Cup final. A key figure in French sport’s greatest home victory, this evening, he became the saviour of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Taking the Torch from the hands of his accomplice, he dashed off to take the Flame and the ceremony out of the stadium and down to the banks of the Seine.
A few moments later, the athletes’ much-coveted medals were presented to them by two of their own, and not just any two: the two most decorated athletes in the history of the Olympic Games in the world and in France, Michael Phelps and Martin Fourcade. Having spent their careers collecting them, these two legends unveiled the gold, silver and bronze medals, set with an original piece of the Eiffel Tower.
THE (WATER) CURTAIN OPENS ON PARADING ATHLETES
As tradition dictates, the Greek delegation is the first to greet the public gathered on the quays of the river Seine. In a theatrical staging, a water curtain opened to let this first boat through under the Austerlitz Bridge. The athletes made their grand entrance on the Seine.
On the bridge, a beautiful fresco celebrated the reunion between the Olympic Games and the city of Paris with the Olympic motto, Faster, higher, stronger, together, and that of Paris, Fluctuat Nec Mergitur .
Amidst a beautifully choreographed ballet of water shows, athletes boarded their boats for a 6km parade, stretching the length of 15 athletics tracks found in a traditional stadium. The athletes were both the privileged spectators and main characters of this 12-act show, and the true stars of the Games received a welcome ovation from the public. Enchanté!
LADY GAGA EMBODIES CABARET, MUSIC-HALL AND FRENCH REVUE
Lady Gaga appeared in the Place Barye to launch the artistic part of the Opening Ceremony with a nod to the tradition of French music hall. From a majestic staircase resembling that of the nave of the Grand Palais, Lady Gaga reinterpreted the classic Mon truc en plume by Zizi Jeanmaire, an icon of French revue.
Chosen for her unique talent, multifaceted performances and love of Parisian culture, Lady Gaga’s performance highlighted the ongoing influence of French culture on the world, and the bond between two icons of two different eras. With her personal touch, Lady Gaga showed how the world has drawn on French culture to reinvent and augment it.
A GRANDIOSE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN AYA NAKAMURA AND THE REPUBLICAN GUARD
On the aptly named Pont des Arts, Thomas Jolly highlighted the equality between eras and between cultures, both academic and pop, with a grandiose encounter: Aya Nakamura and the Republican Guard. In a piece of theatre full of symbolism, the doors of the Institut de France opened to the world’s most listened-to French-speaking artist.
Accompanied by the French Army Choir, Aya Nakamura chose to sing her contemporary hits Pookie and Djadja, as well as the iconic songs by Charles Aznavour For me formidable and La bohème. A joyous ode to the richness and modernity of the French language.
To the rhythm of the notes played by the Republican Guard, a bridge was created between generations, music genres and languages.
A REORCHESTRATED VERSION OF LA MARSEILLAISE FROM THE ROOF OF THE GRAND PALAIS
At the Grand Palais, the spectacular staging of a traditionally formal moment surprised spectators and viewers, French people in particular. On the building’s roof, the opera singer Axelle Saint-Cirel appeared clad in a bleu-blanc-rouge dress adorned with an impressive 6-metre long train. To the powerful notes of new version of La Marseillaise by Victor Le Masne, composer and Music Director of the Paris 2024 Ceremonies, the French spectators gathered on the quays joined in a spine-tingling choir of their national anthem.
At the same moment near the National Assembly, gilded statues of heroines of French history emerged from the depths of the Seine: Olympe de Gouges, Alice Milliat, Gisèle Halimi, Simone de Beauvoir, Paulette Nardal, Jeanne Barret, Louise Michel, Christine de Pizan, Alice Guy and Simone Veil. Through them and their key role in this ceremony, Thomas Jolly paid tribute to all women.
A GIANT BANQUET ON THE DEBILLY FOOTBRIDGE TO WELCOME TEAM FRANCE
The Debilly Footbridge, a typically Parisian bridge, was transformed into the venue for a gigantic banquet for the evening. The table was turned into a catwalk on which an XXL fashion show put fashion and young French designers in the spotlight. The Debilly footbridge then turned into a huge dancefloor to the electronic set of DJ Barbara Butch.
The final 69 delegations were given a fitting welcome to this huge celebration and electric atmosphere. At the end of the parade, the French boat made a triumphant entry, cheered on by a fan zone of close to 2,300 people. The smiling athletes of Team France got a glimpse of what is in store for them: unwavering support. This is what hosting the Games is all about!
A HORSERIDER CLAD IN THE OLYMPIC FLAG GALLOPS DOWN THE SEINE
Thomas Jolly turned the protocol of the Opening Ceremony on its head and transformed it into a show. Galloping on a metal horse, a rider rode down the Seine and the course of the ceremony, draped in a cape emblazoned with the Olympic rings. As the Olympic flag passed by, the spirit of Olympism, marked by friendship and solidarity, expanded throughout the world.
As she passed under the Parisian bridges, the rider unfurled dove wings, a symbolic reminder of the dove release that used to take place to represent the ideal of peace between nations during the Olympic Truce.
The rider concluded her ride at the Trocadéro, giving the Olympic flag a majestic entrance before it was hoisted. Alongside it, the flags of the 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were carried by Games Volunteers.
TONY ESTANGUET DECLARES FRANCE’S LOVE FOR THE GAMES
On the podium in the shape of an Eiffel Tower at the Trocadéro, Tony Estanguet stepped forward to tell the great love story between France and the Games. Born 130 years ago, “when Pierre de Coubertin proposed the rebirth of the ancient Olympic Games, this love story grew with the Games of Paris, of Chamonix, Grenoble and Albertville.” Today, on Friday 26 July 2024, after waiting, after longing for a century, he reminded us of the “great honour” and “huge responsibility” of hosting the Games again.
Welcoming the world to Paris and France, Tony Estanguet told how much of its heart Paris poured into the organisation of the next two weeks by offering athletes “everything that is most precious for us”: “you will find a piece of the Eiffel tower, at the heart of each medal” and “the richest treasures of our national heritage will be the stages on which we compete.”
He highlighted that the Games reminded France that the country is capable of “coming together in the moments that count,” and of “doing things that have never been done before, like having this Opening Ceremony in the city, for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games”.
After thanking those who contributed to making the dream of the Paris 2024 Games come true, above all Bernard Lapasset, Tony Estanguet, three-time Olympic champion, addressed the athletes: “For the next 16 days, you will be the best version of humanity. You’ll remind us that the emotions of sport form a universal language that we all share.”
He also had a special word for French athletes, highlighting their capacity to come together and make a whole country proud. ”With each of your victories, France will come together, with each of your victories, France will show its collective pride.”
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, followed by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, the took their turns at the lectern, the latter officially declaring the Olympic and Paralympic Games open.
RAFAEL NADAL, NADIA COMANECI, CARL LEWIS AND SERENA WILLIAMS JOIN FRENCH SPORTING LEGENDS FOR ONE FINAL TEAM RELAY
Having guided us through this fabulous Opening Ceremony journey, the mysterious flame bearer arrived at the Trocadero for the return of sport. Zinédine Zidane was back to collect and hand the Torch to Rafael Nadal, the most Parisian of international athletes with 14 victories at Roland Garros and. The two-time Olympic champion ran along the Seine together with other sporting legends: Nadia Comaneci, five-time Olympic champion and holder of the first perfect 10 in the history of gymnastics at the Olympic Games; Carl Lewis, considered by some to be the greatest athlete with his 9 Olympic titles in athletics; and Serena Williams the icon of women’s sport and the most successful Grand Slam champion. Together, they returned to the quays of the Seine to launch the grand finale of this ceremony.
Arriving at the Jardin des Tuileries in the Louvre, these four legends of international sport joined twenty others, this time from French sport. Four and twenty make twenty-four, the key number of these Games.
Continuing this relay of champions, Serena Williams passed on the Torch to a woman she often encountered on the courts: Amélie Mauresmo, the first and only French tennis player of the Open era to have been world number 1. Then it was Tony Parker’s turn, the man who made it big with the Americans, 4-time NBA champion and who paved the way for an entire generation.
The Torch was then passed into the hands of Marie-Amélie Le Fur, President of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee and three-time Paralympic champion, followed by the two future flag-bearers of the French Paralympic delegation, Nantenin Keïta and her four Paralympic medals and Alexis Hanquinquant, reigning Paralympic Para Triathlon champion, forming a link between the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
Michaël Guigou, three-time Olympic champion with the French men’s team, and Allison Pineau, member of the first French women’s team to become Olympic champion, highlighted the success of the French handball teams at the Games..
As the only Frenchman since 1928 to be double individual Olympic champion in sabre fencing, Jean-François Lamour was a representative of the sport that has brought France the most medals at the Games.
Félicia Ballanger and Florian Rousseau, both members of the exclusive group of three-time Olympic Champions, followed each other, recognising their magnificent track cycling careers.
Emilie Le Pennec, France’s first Olympic gymnastics champion, was followed by judoka David Douillet, France’s first double Olympic champion, and Clarisse Agbegnenou, the most successful international judoka with 6 world titles, 2 Olympic titles and 1 silver medal.
French swimming, with Alain Bernard, France’s first and only Olympic champion in the 100 m freestyle, and Laure Manaudou, France’s first Olympic swimming champion at just 17 years of age, also had its moment with these two champions.
Renaud Lavillenie, Olympic champion in London in 2012, who broke Sergei Bubka’s legendary record by clearing 6.16m in 2014, and Laura Flessel, France’s first Olympic epee champion and two-time Olympic champion, preceded the ‘doyen’ Charles Coste, France’s oldest living Olympic champion, 100 years old in 2024 and Olympic cycling champion in 1948.
The final team relay, an innovation of Paris 2024 that featured throughout the Olympic Torch Relay, was therefore a relay of exceptional champions, both international and French, embodying the excellence of the Games.
THE EIFFEL TOWER ILLUMINATES PIERRE DE COUBERTIN’S DESIGN OF THE OLYMPIC RINGS
As the last torchbearers made their way up the Seine towards the Cauldron, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 continued to amaze at the Trocadéro. For the first time ever, the beacon of the Eiffel Tower stopped sweeping across the Paris sky and stood still. Hitherto hidden beneath the stage in the shape of the Eiffel Tower on the Place du Trocadéro, the original design of the Olympic rings, created by Pierre de Coubertin himself in 1913, surfaced under the projected lights of the Iron Lady. In the eyes of the man who invented the modern Olympic Games, these five interlaced rings represented ‘the five continents united by Olympism and the colours of all the nations’.
MARIE-JOSE PEREC AND TEDDY RINER LIGHT THE CAULDRON BEFORE IT TAKES OFF TO SHINE IN THE SKIES OF PARIS
The lighting of the cauldron was one of most eagerly expected moments of this opening ceremony. Installed at the heart of the city, in the Tuileries gardens of the Louvre, the Paris 2024 Cauldron is in the centre of one of the most beautiful views of the capital, aligned with the Palais du Louvre and its Pyramid, of the Obelisk of the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysées with the Arc de Triomphe and the Paralympic Agitos at the end.
After the final group relay, Marie-José Perec and Teddy Riner stepped forward above the great fountain of the garden to light up this unexpected and unprecedented Cauldron. Created by French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, a giant ring of fire was crowned with a great hot air balloon, creating one of the most memorable images of this ceremony: once lit and freed of its ties, the Cauldron took to the skies to shine in the skies of Paris. With this gesture, Riner kicked off the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and brought an end to the Olympic Torch Relay, which has spread excitement for these Games throughout the whole of France.
The flying, puncture-proof Cauldron disrupts tradition. Thanks to great technological prowess, the Olympic Flame shines with electricity: a light haze is illuminated by a beam of light. Flying in the skies of Paris tonight and every night during the Games, the Cauldron will lcome to ground every day for the public to come and admire it. From July 27, everyone will be able to get up close to the Olympic Flame via a programme of free tickets.
CELINE DION MAKES AN EMOTIONAL COMEBACK FROM THE BALCONY OF THE EIFFEL TOWER
Her return to the stage was awaited by the whole world, and it was grandiose. When Céline Dion appeared on the balcony of the Eiffel Tower to round off this exceptional evening, the quays of the Seine and the Trocadero erupted in cheers.
Céline Dion’s interpretation of ‘L’Hymne à l’amour’, her tribute to Edith Piaf’s masterpiece, brought the whole of Paris to its feet. This irresistible artistic choice celebrated the power and emotion of a timeless classic, the extraordinary career of two of the greatest singers of all time, and finally Paris, and all the most beautiful things that France symbolizes.
In this sublime, emotion-filled finale, Céline Dion brought this most extraordinary of opening ceremonies to a close, creating another moment, suspended in time, for the world to remember. Maybe, in 100 years, the world will still be talking about it. But now it’s time for the sport and the athletes to take over. Let the Games begin.
The Commission has published its fifth annual Rule of Law Report which monitors significant developments and takes stock of the rule of law situation in all EU countries. It shows that the EU is much better prepared to detect, prevent and address emerging challenges than 5 years ago. This means more resilient European democracies, mutual trust in the EU, good functioning of the single market and a business environment that fosters competitiveness and sustainable growth.
Each year, the report includes new recommendations for EU countries. 68% of the 2023 recommendations have been, fully or partially, addressed, showing that the report has become a true driver of positive reforms. However, in some EU countries systematic concerns remain and the situation has further deteriorated.
This year’s edition also introduces chapters on Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, to support their reform efforts and ensure continued work on the rule of law to further progress towards EU membership.
Key findings and recommendations of the 2024 report:
Justice reforms: Important reforms to strengthen judicial independence have been initiated. However, systemic concerns regarding judicial independence persist and specific cases of deterioration have been observed. There is a need for safeguards in judicial appointment procedures, autonomy of the prosecution service and adequate resources.
Anti-corruption frameworks: Corruption remains a serious concern, however, the EU countries are better at fighting it – they have increased resources on the capacity of law enforcement services, prosecution authorities and the judiciary. Further action is needed to strengthen preventive frameworks and ensure the effective investigation and prosecution of corruption cases.
Media freedom and pluralism: Concrete steps were made to improve journalists’ safety and working environment, and the tasks and competences of several national media regulators have been expanded. Concerns about the independent governance or financial stability of public service media, transparency of media ownership, the right of access to public documents and the transparent and fair allocation of state advertising persist. Recommendations focus on these areas to ensure a free and pluralistic media landscape.
Institutional checks and balances: Efforts to improve legislative processes have been noted. However, challenges remain, including the excessive use of accelerated procedures, the quality of law-making, and restrictions faced by civil society and human rights defenders. Recommendations aim to strengthen legislative processes and support the functioning of independent authorities.
The rule of law is an integral part of the very identity of the EU and a precondition for the respect of other values. According to the latest Special Eurobarometer survey, more than 7 in 10 EU citizens agree that the EU plays an important role in helping to uphold the rule of law in their country. Close to 9 in 10 EU citizens think it’s important that all EU countries respect the core values of the EU.
The last palace of the Ottoman sultans is called Yıldız Saray (translated as the Stars’ Palace) and today it opens its doors to visitors for the first time.
The palace is located on the Yildiz (star) hill in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district and is spread over an area of about 500,000 square meters. Perhaps the most magnificent panorama of the Bosphorus opens from the hill.
Yıldız Saray, unlike the nearby Charagan Saray (today a prestigious 5-star Kempinski hotel), is relatively small, but it is an extremely beautiful and elegant palace complex that rivals European palaces.
It was built by order of Sultan Selim III (1789-1807) for his mother Mihrishah Sultan. But under the reign of Sultan Abdulhamit II, it was expanded and modernized to its present form. For 33 years, it was used for managing state affairs and as a home for the Sultan and his family, including the harem.
The Star Palace preserves the memory of the most important events and personalities from the end of the Ottoman Empire. One of the last rulers of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Abdulhamid II, was forced to leave with his family when he was dethroned in a coup in 1909, never to return.
The last Ottoman sultan, Mehmet Vahdettin VI, also lived in the Star Palace for a while (he also lives in another mansion – Vahdettin Koşkü on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, which is currently the presidential residence).
Yıldız Saray ceased to be used as a palace in 1922, when the Ottoman Empire came to an end.
After the proclamation of Turkey as a republic, the Star Palace was given to the Military Academy. It was then used by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, but remained closed to visitors. It is opened very rarely, for special receptions.
In 2018, it was granted to the Office of National Palaces of the Presidency.
After a long restoration, today it is planned that the landmark complex will be opened for the first time as a museum for visitors.
This will happen at a special ceremony in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will participate.
Experts note that Yıldız Palace has undergone comprehensive restoration and conservation and landscaping activities.
The Sultan’s chambers, work pavilions, guest lounges, harem rooms and gardens have been restored to their original form and will welcome visitors for the first time in their history.
The Yildiz museum complex will be open every day except Monday.
Illustrative photo: A view from inside the Grand Mabeyin Mansion of Yıldız Palace (IÜ Ktp., Album, no. 90614).
JRO-6501;0; Icon Our Lady of Kazan in a Silver Mount
Research by the Institute for Demographic Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) from October 2022 shows that over the past 14 years, the level of religiosity among youth has halved (2008 – 60%; 2021 – 30%). Non-religious young people have quadrupled.
21% of the youth group (from 14 to 29 years old) have changed their worldview position in favor of atheism: “before a believer, now a non-believer”. Real religiosity is even lower, the scientists note.
On almost all indicators of religious behavior over the years (confession, communion, fasting), religious activity has fallen to the level of statistical error (1-4%). Frequent church attendance among young people of all age groups in 2021 was recorded at a level of 6-7%.
This is the period when the Russian Orthodox Church enjoyed freedom and enormous financial and political support from the state, public influence and power, hundreds of new churches were built and the church leadership reported annually missionary programs among the youth. Since 2010, all Russian students aged 10-11 have studied religion in the form of the subject “Fundamentals of Religious Culture and Secular Ethics”. Most students studied secular ethics (approx. 40%), and Orthodoxy – approx. 30%
In the concept of a successful mission of the Moscow Patriarchate, the main idea was laid that the provision of funds and public influence with the help of the state would lead to an increase in people’s interest in the faith and their conversion to the church. In Moscow and the central region, to which the RAS study refers, church activity is most active and the greatest resources are concentrated there. Practice shows that none of this contributed to young people recognizing Christ in church messages and public presence. On the contrary, even those who had religious interest have lost it. In the provincial regions of the Russian Federation, atheistic attitudes among the population are even stronger.
The “Kalashnikov” Group has increased its military and civilian production by 50% in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year, it said in a press release onc.
It is in all directions – from the implementation of the volume of military production to the ongoing production of metal burning machines and instruments,” he says in summary by “Kalashnikov”.
From there, they note that the distribution for the production of rope enters the second half of the year with new additional contracts. And the division for the production of metal burning machines – the largest volume of orders from external customers is 13%.
In addition to the price, there is also a stable intepec to the metal burning machines 250ITBM. “Compared to the same period last year, during the first half of this year almost twice as many metal burning machines 250 and TBM were fined.
The division for the special technique fulfilled the requirements of the government’s administrative order to 100%.”
Currently, there is active exploitation of new production lines, where “from the beginning of the year, several children’s units of new equipment have been produced”.
Photo: Mikhail Kalashnikov in Army Museum, Moscow, Russia (2007),
