Moscow ISKCON Temple now Ordered Closed
by Court Order

BY: MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT

Jul 14, 2013 — MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SUN) — Moscow ISKCON Temple now ordered closed in ten days by Moscow City Government's final court decision.

After many so many past close calls and demands for closure, with many previous demands for closure delayed, the final decision was made by the Moscow government, city officials and the courts, ordering the ISKCON Moscow temple closed in a brief ten's days time. An impossible feat.

The Moscow devotees are ordered to immediately vacate the original Moscow land given to them by the Moscow government to build their temple. It was a gift to them, but was revoked/canceled by them). Now, four days ago, the final court decision has brought this drama to a sad end for ISKCON Moscow. The ISKCON Moscow temple must leave its current, formally donated location.

This has come as a complete unexpected surprise to the Moscow ISKCON devotees, who were not at all given enough time to move from there by officials. There are many temporary structures and Temple altar/kitchens there. Moving is a costly and time consuming task, which will take many weeks to do. Ten days is not enough time warning time given to ISKCON Moscow. This is tragic, inconsiderate and awful.

Suddenly, an unannounced government official came to the temple to deliver the final irrevocable court decision to end Moscow ISKCON Temple's right to exist there. It is an extreme order for them to vacate the temple within the next ten days time, or to face certain extreme actions from the city officials against them.

To make matters even worse and insulting for the Russian devotees, Moscow ISKCON will now sadly face a 7 million ruble fine, and also bulldozers to knock down the temple building and its brahamacari ashrams and temple offices. There is also a huge, expensive pandal adjacent to the temple, a professional tent used year round for many visiting gurus and seniors devotees as well as important huge festivals, now also in danger of being destroyed by the city officials.

This comes at the same time when, in just a short time, the biggest festival of the Moscow Russian Yatra is to be held: Sri Krsna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada's Appearance day programs will be crippled severely, as there will be no place now to hold it.

The ten day ultimatum to vacate the temple and move out is an impossible deadline, as more time will be needed to dissemble the massive tent and buildings, what to speak of relocating the presiding Deities, Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Sachi Suta, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Dieties Who will be rendered homeless soon by this heavy action, suddenly and ruthlessly enforced by the Moscow City government officials.

At this time, I ask ALL ISKCON Temples and devotees to search their hearts and souls and understand how serious this is, and how Srila Prabhupada would have expected actions and help from our entire ISKCON Society for Moscow ISKCON. Please understand the very great need now of coming forward and helping Srila Prabhupada's Russian devotees in their time of grave danger and need. It's a sincere call to rescue the ISKCON Moscow Temple project.

This is an URGENT appeal to all GBC members, and I humbly ask all ISKCON Temples, all over the world to come forward with help for Moscow ISKCON in this grave crisis situation.

Thank You

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to the Russian devotees