Growing Orthodox influence in Russia

[Anomalocaris]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19297373

Both the EU and USA have protested at the excessive sentences inflicted on the girls of Pussy Riot, for the protest they made against the Orthodox churches support for Putin and the Russian 'Mafiachy'. I have heard that the Orthodox church called for excessive sentences, and it seems the Russian legal system have delivered. Is this the sign that the Orthodox church is getting near to its traditional role of being the state Religion of Russia.You can see here again church and state going hand in hand, and away from free speech?

I have no doubt the Orthordox chruch in Russian is re-assuming precisely the same and only role it has ever played in Russia - tool and shield of secular despotism. Putin is merely sharpening his tool and giving it the aura of menace it requires to intimidate the enemies of the Romanovs, uh, I meant Vlad the ex-KGB colonel.

I think the notion that the emergent economies of the world is to be called BRIC is rediculous. Russia in 50 years would be at essentially the same place as she had been on the even of Russo-Japanese war in 1905. There may be other letters added to BRIC, but the R well definitely disappear.