The singer’s father, Valery Charlotte, confirmed that a petition from the Russian Orthodox Church had reached the Samara Regional Court and expressed hope that the court would take it into account in connection with the Rise edition that had been reported earlier.
Valery Charlotte explained that he and his son, who were held at the Samara pre-trial detention facility, were waiting for this letter, and now the court is weighing the church’s petition as part of the ongoing case.
“As the saying goes, there is nothing to investigate there since the church has already issued its assessment. I hope the court will take this into consideration, this is an official letter,” he stated.
Edward Charlotte faces four charges under the Criminal Code, including insulting the feelings of believers, and his relatives are hoping the court will show leniency in light of the petition and the circumstances surrounding the case.
According to Valery Charlotte, his son’s actions did not insult believers’ feelings but rather targeted the patriarch, for which the artist apologized, a clarification that shapes how the matter is viewed by supporters and observers alike.
The artist drew the attention of law enforcement by posting videos on social networks in which a Russian passport was burned on camera, a stance against the military operation in Ukraine was voiced, and a photo of Patriarch Kirill along with a crucifix was attached to a tree, a sequence that sparked public debate and media focus.
In a letter from the Russian Orthodox Church to the court, it was noted that Patriarch Kirill forgave the singer and requested that the lawsuit for insulting believers’ feelings be stopped, a possibility recognized by the Criminal Code in cases of repentance and reconciliation with the offended party.
Earlier, Charlotte did not have a diagnosed mental disorder, according to preliminary statements in the case, a detail that has been referenced in discussions about the broader implications of the proceedings.