Russia’s Tatarstan Republic is offering 1 million rubles ($30,000) for information relating to the recent torching of several Orthodox churches in the region.
Four Orthodox churches were set on fire in the predominantly Muslim Republic in November and explosives were found in the city of Tuban Kama and the Aleksei district, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Investigators classified the attacks as vandalism and arson, but Tatarstan’s prosecutor-general insisted they should be investigated as terrorism.
Seven Orthodox churches have been burnt down in the past six months. The Central Spiritual Board of Russian Muslims has condemned the arson attacks, saying: “There is no doubt that such action is an attempt to stir up sectarian discord and ethnic hatred”.
