Posted on 04/28/2025 6:19:48 AM PDT by Red Badger
The ruling marks the latest chapter in a long-standing dispute between Russia and the Orthodox Russian Cultural Association (ACOR) of Nice, which has maintained these sites for nearly a century.
A major legal ruling in Nice has shifted the balance of power over key Russian heritage sites. The Court of Appeals of Aix-en-Provence recently awarded the ownership of two iconic properties—The Russian Orthodox Church on Rue Longchamp and the Russian Cemetery of Caucade to the Russian Federation, reports Nice Matin.
The Fight Over Longchamp Church Alexis Obolensky, president of ACOR, has spent decades safeguarding these historic sites. His organization, founded in 1923, now faces the threat of eviction after the French court ruled in favor of Russia.
This decision grants the Federation control over the church on Rue Longchamp and the nearby Russian Cemetery of Caucade. The legal battle isn’t a new development but represents the latest turn in an ongoing conflict.
Obolensky, whose family is deeply rooted in Russian history, expressed his dismay over the ruling. “It feels strange to think that this might be the last time I unlock the door,” he said as he prepared to leave the church.
The news is devastating for the association, which has worked for decades to preserve these historical monuments.
The courts have just awarded ownership of the Orthodox Church on rue Longchamp, in the heart of Nice, to the Russian Federation. Photograph by Justine Meddah Russia’s Growing Presence in Nice This legal victory follows a similar case involving the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas. In 2006, Russia successfully reclaimed the cathedral, built in 1902 under Tsar Nicholas II.
While this initial ruling was a significant loss for the ACOR, it did not include the smaller church on Rue Longchamp or the cemetery at Caucade. However, the latest court decision has now expanded Russia’s control over these landmarks.
The battle over these properties is about more than just legal ownership. The Russian Federation’s claims are deeply tied to national identity and the desire to control Russia’s historical narrative.
For Russia, this isn’t just a matter of property—it’s about preserving and asserting its imperial legacy. The sites in Nice are rich with historical importance, and Moscow sees them as integral to its cultural heritage.
The Russian Cemetery of Caucade and Historical Memory One of the most significant aspects of this legal struggle is the Russian Cemetery of Caucade. The cemetery is the final resting place for many “White Russians” who fled the Bolshevik Revolution, including generals from the tsarist army.
The Russian Federation has expressed interest in retrieving the remains of these individuals, further solidifying its control over the sites.
Obolensky, however, argues that Russia is erasing a more nuanced chapter of Russian history. He believes the Kremlin’s actions are part of a broader effort to suppress the memory of the “White Russian” diaspora and replace it with a more homogeneous vision of Russia’s past.
“It’s as if they want to erase the idea that there could be another Russia—one that was more tolerant, open, and respectful of its history,” Obolensky lamented.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling also dispossesses Nice’s Russian Orthodox religious association of the Caucade Russian cemetery. Photograph by Franck Fernandes. A Community at a Crossroads The court ruling has left the ACOR scrambling for solutions. Obolensky, at nearly 80 years old, admits feeling weary after nearly two decades of legal battles.
Despite the ruling, he remains determined to continue his fight, seeking refuge for the association by reaching out to the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan.
“Not that he can work miracles,” Obolensky noted, “but we hope he can use his contacts to help us find a new home.”
The ACOR’s members now face the possibility of eviction from the very places they’ve fought to protect for generations. Obolensky remains resolute but acknowledges that the emotional toll of this battle is hard to bear.
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With all of the sanctions, France should find a way to keep this away from Putin’s control. I don’t know enough about France’s court system, but I assume an appeal is possible.
During the communist period many Russian Orthodox congregations abroad disaffiliated from the Russian Orthodox Church and from the Russian state. Now that the communist period is over, and the Russian Orthodox Church is again part of the Russian state, legal ownership of these two parcels of land, a church and a cemetery, has been revisited.
There remain many complications concerning the Russian and other Orthodox churches arising from the communist period and the break-up of the Soviet Union.
All the more reason for Russia to claim France after taking the Baltics, Poland & Germany.
And the Sudetenland..............
Dimitri Obolensky was a noted Byzantinist. I don’t know how closely he was related to Alexis Obolensky.
You’ve seen one Obolensky you’ve seen them all..................
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