Pope probably read Dostoevsky inattentively, otherwise he would not be surprised at barbarity of Russians – Markarova

KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Pope Francis probably read Fyodor Dostoevsky inattentively, otherwise he would not be surprised at the cruelty of the Russians, which is just naturally inherent in them, said ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova, commenting on the words of the Pontiff that cruelty is not inherent in the Russian people.

"The Pope, probably, somehow inattentively read Dostoevsky. Otherwise, His Holiness would not be surprised at the rigidity of the Russians (which is just naturally inherent in them). And several other works by Russian writers/poets, including Pushkin, Kuprin, Bulgakov, as well as even a superficial study of the true history of our region, would show that there was no signs of humanism in Muscovy either under Ivan the Terrible in 1547, or in 1708, when Baturin population was brutally slaughtered, or in every event after that …," Markarova wrote on Facebook on Sunday.

Earlier, the Pope said that cruelty is not inherent in the Russian people, and that the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky still inspire Christians to comprehend Christianity.

“What strikes me – that’s why I use the word ‘tormented’ [literally: ‘martoriata’ – ‘subject to torment’ stems from ‘martoriare’ – ‘to torture, to torment’] for Ukraine – is the cruelty, which is not of the Russian people, perhaps… because the Russian people are a great people. It is [barbarity] of the mercenaries, of the soldiers who go off to war as an adventure, mercenaries… I prefer to think of it this way because I have high esteem for the Russian people, for Russian humanism. Just think of Dostoevsky, who to this day inspires us, inspires Christians to think of Christianity. I have great affection for the Russian people and I also have great affection for the Ukrainian people,” Pope is quoted as saying by the Vatican News.