Satanists and Nazis defile author's flat

The Scotsman ^ | February 7, 2005 | CHRIS STEPHEN

[MadIvan]

SATANISTS and neo-Nazis have begun targeting a Moscow apartment famously used by writer Mikhail Bulgakov, terrifying local residents.

Swastikas, SS symbols and pentagrams cover the walls and stairwells of the apartment block where the writer set his most famous work, the Master and Margarita.

The appearance has triggered a real-life struggle between the forces of good and evil that mimics the battle of the novel.

For years, residents of the block, 10 Bolshoya Sadovaya, have put up with local youths arriving, with beer and guitars, to loll around outside apartment 50, where part of the text is set. They even tolerated their graffiti, featuring choice quotes and fantastical paintings of the book’s characters, including devils, enigmatic cats and sexual Margaritas.

"I am afraid to go out," said local resident Elena Sapronenkova, a film director. "I come out of my apartment and there they are: satanic symbols."

Devil worship has been thriving in Russia ever since the demise of Communism 14 years ago. Some blame the ideological vacuum left by the collapse of socialism, others say satanism is a front for racists.

It is a threat the authorities are taking seriously. Since 2003 Russia’s interior ministry has monitored devil-worship cults.

Last year an alarming rise in satanist graffiti saw many schools abandon Halloween celebrations.

Most of the 500 estimated hardcore members of satanist groups are teenagers and most of their activities are harmless, but several crimes and ritualistic murders have been linked to these cults.

The presence of the devil in Master and Margarita has been on seized on by these satanists, though Bulgakov himself was no glorifier of the devil.

"It doesn’t have to do with Bulgakov at all," said local orthodox priest, Father Alexander.

[MadIvan]

Shameful.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[GeronL]

well.

[Clemenza]

When I was a lad, I knew a kid who wore a Swastika T-shirt and a pentagram necklace. Odd, considering he was of Jewish heritage...

[endthematrix]

Islamists in Chechnya claim to having a problem with Russian forces and/or mercenaries carving Swastikas and pentagrams in their flesh. No opinion on that practice if it's true and not propaganda. I believe it due to the rise of neo-Nazi parties in Russia.

[familyop]

Ping!

"Devil worship has been thriving in Russia ever since the demise of Communism 14 years ago."

Obviously, socialism did not meet its demise. Maybe it's only beginning to shed its temporary historical skin and reveal itself for what it really is!

...only a little sardonic humor in this, and some possible foreboding.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I can't believe that this is the same nation that has a national holiday honoring Alexander Pushkin; where chess is considered a spectator sport!

These punks need to be given a lesson in etiquette, tout de suite.

[Graymatter]

Satanists and Nazis -- don't you h@te when that happens!

Can somebody tell me why I can't type the word h@te in here? :( When typed correctly it vanishes.

[Clemenza]

Judging from the Russkies (the "Christian" ones) I've met in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, I'm not surprised.

[ex-Texan]

Shameful indeed! But Putin has been sounding a more and more like a neo-fascist in the past six months. It's not hard to imagine young men wearing jackboots marching with goosestep precision in downtown Moscow. The pentagrams are no mystery either. 'Nuff said.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

If you are interested in such strange behaviour I suggest you see the film "The Believer" directed by Harry Bean, released in 2003.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

I know a man who married the daughter of a Croatian Nazi who went on to become a satanist. What a combination !

[Clemenza]

Frank Colin, the American Neo-Nazi who organized the march in Skokie, Illinois, had a Jewish father who was a survivor of Bergen Belsen. His case partly inspired the film in question.

[durasell]

I hate Illinois Nazis....

(gratuitous Blues Bros. quote)

[Clemenza]

Utashi Satanshi?

[bahblahbah]

"Most of the 500 estimated hardcore members of satanist groups are teenagers and most of their activities are harmless, but several crimes and ritualistic murders have been linked to these cults."

Nothing to see here people. Just some Dungeons and Dragons nerds.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Yes quite.

One mixed up cookie who was overly influenced by his sadistic father-in-law.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

Don't minimize the truth of certain groups and their activities. A fantasy role-playing game adherent is totally different to a satanic cult member.

[bahblahbah]

Maybe I should put a j/k at the end of that. I thought it would be completely obvious.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Ustashe member:

Hey! We Croatians may be Hitler-admirers. We may even be Satan-worshippers. However, we are not homosexuals! The Serbians, on the other hand... Well, let's just say that the Nazi occupation wasn't the only thing their partisans were putting up a "stiff resistance" to.