ROC/MP Representative in Thailand intercedes for musician Mikhail Pletnev

ROC/MP Representative in Thailand intercedes for musician Mikhail Pletnev, who is accused of pedophilia
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Interceding for the well-known Russian musician Mikhail Pletnev, who was accused of raping a 14-year-old teemager in Thailand, is the priest-in-charge of the first Orthodox community in Thailand and the St. Nicholas Church in Bangkok, reports RSN [Russian News Service].

During his years of service Father Oleg (Oleg Cherepanin) is famous for ransoming more than 70 Russians and other CIS citizens from Thai jails. The fact that Pletnev is accused of pedophilia, according to him, is not an obstacle.

“As far as I know, Pletnev did not even ask the consulate for help,” said Fr. Oleg. “It is necessary to wait for the judicial determination. Pletnev is now free, so there is no case as such. But if he’s jailed, or ask us to help , then we are ready to consider his position “.

We should remember that that Archimandrite Oleg (Cherepanin) has served in Bangkok for over ten years. The Church of St. Nicholas and the parish of the same name are located in Bangkok and have been there since 1999. About a thousand Russians are in Bangkok every day — those who are in the Thai capital on business for prolonged periods, or those who come for shorter periods, and tourists.

The Church of All Saints and services of All Saints Orthodox parish are in Pattaya. Up to 15 thousand Russians own property or rent their apartments and homes in Pattaya, of which about 5,000 live in the seaside town permanently. Moreover, during the course of a year up to 500,000 Russian and other Russian-speaking tourists visit Thai resorts.

Currently, the third Orthodox temple in Thailand, funded by donations from the people, is being built on the island of Phuket.