Priest Nikolai Sitnikov of the church of the Nativity of Saint John the Forerunner in Moscow published in Segodnia an open letter to Priest Alexander Shargunov, criticizing him for his outspoken support of the communist presidential candidate G. Ziuganov. He states his amazement that an Orthodox priest could be so misled as to believe that the communists could really change from their essentially antireligious nature. "You know well what our Lord Jesus Christ said about the devil, that he is a lie and the father of lies and that there is no truth in him....They [communists] always were and always will be in their spiritual essence horrible persecutors of Christians and overt opponents of the Incarnate Jesus Christ. But in order to achieve their domination they again and again contrive lies." Sitnikov emphasizes biblical themes of wolves in sheep's clothing and the devil as an angel of light. Sitnikov criticizes Shargunov for appearing on television with communists and saying: "We are against communists but since they are leading the 'national patriotic front' then we will vote for them." Sitnikov calls that "stupidity" and "absurdity," citing "one of their representatives who recently declared: 'if I come to power then I will again blow up the temple of Christ the Savior in Moscow.' This is the kind of person you and your ilk are supporting."
Sitnikov addresses Shargunov's complaints about the crime and pornography that the current government tolerates, saying that such things are the result of the God-given freedom of fallen humanity. "But really this hardly justifies the disgraceful kissing of the leader of the communist atheists by a representative of your group." Sitnikov does not give the name of this priest but mentions that he was well known for his cooperation with soviet authorities.
Sitnikov warns Shargunov about the responsibility he is assuming for advocating that Christians "again exchange their freedom in Jesus Christ by advising them to support the fools who are continuing to affirm in their hearts that there is no god." He accuses Shargunov of arrogance for taking his position in defiance of the patriarch. "Let's be serious, father Alexander: which is better, the benevolent attitude of the current authorities with respect to the church (even if it is only for appearances) or its persecution by the communo-patriots who are trying to get back to the state feeding trough? Do you seriously believe their flattering promises and their claims of spiritual rebirth, do you believe their democratically tolerant and even positive attitude toward faith?" Sitnikov says that maybe the "spiritually illiterate" masses would be deceived by that a priest certainly should not be. "May God grant that you will recognize your terrible deception and repent before Him and before His flock, Orthodox Christians, for the grievous sin of neo-renovationist, red-hundredist apostasy."