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Article: When do imported cigarettes count as `humanitarian' aid? Gordon Feller uncovers some curious fundraising techniques in Russia.
- Article from:
- New Internationalist
- Article date:
- April 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 New Internationalist Magazine. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THE Russian Orthodox Church has never shied away from making money to stay solvent. It runs a factory that produces and sells icons and candles, bishops bless automobiles in exchange for pocket change, and one diocese has entered into a high-profile bottled-water venture with private partners.
But this is small change compared to the big business that is being conducted by the Patriarchate's Department of External Affairs. It is founding banks, importing duty-free cigarettes and is a partner in an oil-exporting business that had a turnover of two billion dollars last year. That makes the Church a major business concern by any measure.
One of its biggest ...