A ubiquitous feature of Soviet life was the institution of people’s druzhiny – ostensibly voluntary citizens’ neighborhood law-and-order patrols, instantly recognizable by the red armbands worn by the druzhinniki. Well, they’re back… with a faith-based twist. Here’s an exclusive translation of a recent article from the daily electronic newspaper Utro.ru.

Orthodox druzhiny frighten human rights advocates

21 November, 10:54 | Lev DAVYDOV

Yesterday, it became known about how the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is getting ready to make its contribution to establishing order on the streets of Russian cities. Soon, Orthodox druzhiny may be setting about carrying out of this not-simple mission.

“We’ve got no small number of groupings, which today literally enslave the life of a street, a district, a small town, a village. And here, I consider, Orthodox druzhiny may establish order in their place of residence”, declared deputy head of the department of external ecclesiastical ties of the ROC, Vsevolod Chaplin. “Now alongside many church communities, parishes, there exist military-patriotic groups with good athletic training. They could manifest big civic activeness.” In the words of the clergyman,, in the work with respect to the creation of the druzhiny may take part all who desire.