The head of Synodal department for church and society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, told journalists on 30 September that the decision from the upper chamber of parliament, the Federation Council, to authorise air strikes in Syria was “consistent with international law, the mentality of our people and the role that our country has always played in the Middle East”, according to Interfax news agency.
He added that Russia cannot be indifferent while Christians and other minority groups are being destroyed in the region. The interreligious council of Russia released a statement in support of military operations against terrorism in the Middle East. “The fight against terrorism is a holy struggle and today our country is perhaps the most active force in the world to combat terrorism,” the priest said.
Under the Russian constitution, the president needs parliamentary approval to legally use the military outside of the country. Putin last sought such authorisation before annexing Crimea in March 2014.
Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergei Ivanov said the military was to fight Islamic State (Isis) militants in Syria, upon a request from President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian presidency confirmed it required military assistance to fight terrorism. According to US officials, Russia conducted its first air strikes on rebel-held areas of Homs.
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