Russian TV host says he never got an answer about whether the government intends to lock up all atheists

Television host Vladimir Pozner announced on Friday that he still hasn’t received an answer from Russian officials about whether atheism is considered a crime. In May, appearing on national TV, he posed the question directly to President Putin, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, and Constitutional Court Chairman Valery Zorkin.

“The Russian Orthodox Church answered that they say I needn’t worry. Putin, meanwhile, didn’t answer at all, though [Kremlin press secretary Dmitry] Peskov said that he thinks this isn’t a government issue, but a rhetorical question that doesn’t require special attention,” Pozner said on Friday. The TV host added that the Russian Orthodox Church’s answer was evasive, just as he expected. Pozner also singled out “unconvincing” remarks on television by church spokesman Vladimir Legoida.

Pozner asked about prosecuting atheists after a court in Yekaterinburg gave blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky a 3.5-year suspended sentence for offending religious sentiments, inciting hatred, and trading in illegal spy equipment (owning a recorder pen). Sokolovsky got into trouble after filming himself playing Pokemon Go inside a cathedral.  

Spokespeople for Russia’s Constitutional Court say the court can only comment on official queries. The Russian Orthodox Church has said that atheist beliefs are not inherently offensive.