09/15/1998 - 2224

BBT Trustees Change Moscow Leadership

Russia (VNN) - by Bhagavat Dharma das

BBT Media Release. 14th Sept. 1998.

BBT Trustees Change Moscow Leadership

The BBT Trustees, after an on-the-spot investigation by JayadvaitaSwami, Naresvara Dasa and Brahma Muhurta Dasa, have decided to removeSannyas Dasa from being director of the Moscow BBT. Sannyas is a leadingmember of the Harikesa splinter group, and in the judgment of theTrustees his recent actions have not been in the best interestsof Srila Prabhupada's BBT. Sannyas is expected to vacate his offices inthe Moscow Begovaya temple within the next week. It is believed he willmove to St. Petersburg, where the splinter group has taken over theISKCON temple.

The Trustees regret the need to take this action. Over a period of time,they have tried to reach agreement with Sannyas, and have offered manyopportunities for his continued involvement. Unfortunately, Sannyas feltunable to cooperate. Nevertheless, in a letter to Sannyas, the Trusteesoffer an olive branch: "Should you ever be willing to serve again infull cooperation with the BBT trustees, we will also be grateful for theopportunity to welcome you back."

In a similar letter to a group who have decided to follow Sannyas to St.Petersburg, the Trustees thank the devotees for their past service andstate, "Disturbances are temporary, and Krsna consciousness is eternal.So we want you to know that whenever you may have a change of heart andwish to return to your ISKCON/BBT family and serve under the guidanceand shelter of Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON and the BBT, we will begrateful for the opportunity to have you with us so that we may servetogether once again."

Brahma Muhurta Dasa, the Northern Europe Trustee, will take charge ofrebuilding the Russian BBT. New managers have already been chosen. Thedistribution of Srila Prabhupada's books will go on, and newbooks - several titles are ready - will be printed.

The handling of BBT affairs for the Ukranian language will shift fromMoscow to Kiev, in Ukraine itself, a positive step regardless of therecent disturbances.

For further information, please contact

Bhagavat Dharma Dasa or Anjana Dasi at the BBT Communications Office

ON COM bbtco@com.bbt.seOn the Net bbtco@netcomuk.co.uk