Russian charity in N. America receiving death threats

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A resident of Fund for Assistance (FFA) for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) Mark Selawry told Sputnik that members of a North American Orthodox charity that aids Ukrainian refugees are receiving death threats simply because of their ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

"There is an increasing development that is very concerning when anyone, or any organization, or any affiliation with the Russian Church, are labeled by ignorant people as being 'pro-Putin,' and there are death threats, there are threats made to those who go to churches, to the parishioners, and to the clergy," Selawry stressed.

A priest from Montreal has received personal death threats, as well as threats against the church. Simultaneously, parishioners have asked the police to protect them.

"We are an organization collecting funds to help those in Ukraine regardless of political views, and we are now becoming a target of criticism and attacks from people who are sadly misguided," Selawry said.

"We are an organization that collects funds to help those in Ukraine regardless of political beliefs, and we are now becoming the target of criticism and attacks from people who are sadly misguided," Selawry explained.

"It is horrible," he added.

Amid rising anti-Russian rhetoric in western media, Russian-owned businesses in the United States have faced backlash, with many being vandalized. 

Simultaneously, anti-Russian slogans were scrawled on restaurant walls, and windows were smashed. 

In the same context, the Russian House restaurant in Washington D.C. was attacked twice. 

Many Russians have been also barred from participating in international events due to their nationality, and many Russian businesses have been targeted.