From Echo Moskvy:

Omsk photographer submits a request to Russia’s investigative committee to determine the existence of God

Vasiliy Melnichenko has turned in the appropriate documents. As the artist himself explained in an interview with Echo Moskvy, if the investigation determines that God doesn’t exist, then an investigation into the Russian Orthodox Church needs to take be initiated. Or a criminal case under the article of “Fraud on an exceptionally large scale”. If the investigation determines that God does exist, then Melnichenko wants to see the justification that the church operates on a legal basis, in particular, representing his interests.

Comments from Echo Moskvy:

put_on:

This “…representing his interests…” – it’s great!

johnshopkins:

In my opinion, the answer is obvious. There is no God, and Gundyaev is a fraudster.

corcornilov:

It will also be necessary to engage the science experts of the Russian Academy of Sciences

plast726:

Logical

leonidovlenya:

So why hasn’t he set the investigative committee going at the synagogue? The Catholic church, Islam…

ognivo:

No need to laugh at the wretched. [Note: in Russian, the etymology of the word “wretched” comes from a prefix that used to mean “away from” and the word “God” itself.]

lebedev_64:

What crime is the Lord God accused of? Of criminal negligence when creating the world? The abuse of power after the creation of the world? Or of fraud, by dishonestly pretending he exists?

adashin: (responding to above)

What crime is the Lord God accused of?

Of not being the Lord God.

terpigorev:

This is the best joke of 2012

epopt: (responding to above)

No, it’s the best joke in 2012 years.

amster:

Knowing our investigative committee, I think that they’re going to start by checking up on the sanity of Melnichenko himself. I hope that the creative guy doesn’t drink and doesn’t smoke anything illegal…

old44:

Let’s wait for the counter-suit

viteck:

I don’t understand why our Orthodox citizens are against such a check. Actually, from their point of view, God 100% exists, without a doubt, so any investigation will easily prove his existence. Can you imagine how much the number of believers would grow after the publication of the results? :) Or perhaps our Orthodoxy doubts somewhere deep in their soul? Is their faith not as strong as they claim, and so they’re scared of investigations?… :)))

npridnia: