On February 1, Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov), Secretary of the DECR for Inter-Christian Relations, visited the Embassy of Ethiopia in Russia, where he met with the Ambassador of Ethiopia to Russia, Alemayehu Tegenu. Deputy Ambassador Cham Ugala Uryat and Political and Economic Affairs Adviser to the Embassy Elbetel Wosenye Abebe also attended the meeting.

The two sides discussed the current situation in Ethiopia in the context of the ongoing conflict in Tigray and related issues of ongoing engagement in the humanitarian sphere. Hieromonk Stefan noted the importance of the Ethiopian direction for the external activities of the Moscow Patriarchate developing in the context of brotherly relations with the Ethiopian Church. The establishment of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa by the decision of the Holy Synod of the ROC of December 29, 2021 was especially noted.

Ambassador Tegenu and Hieromonk Stephan discussed Ethiopia-related projects of the Inter-Religious Working Group on Protection of Believers' Rights against Discrimination and Xenophobia of the Presidential Council for Cooperation with Religious Associations as well as cooperation in partnership with AFROCOM and other topics of mutual interest.

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