Meanwhile, RCMP are investigating suspected arson last week at the Krestova home of Mike Sapriken. Mr. Sapriken is the son-in-law of Mary Malakoff, a Freedomite who has repeatedly levelled charges of complicity in arson at Stefan Sorokin, the leader of the Christian Community and Brotherhood of Reformed Doukhobors, a rival sect.

Doukhobors fasting as arson continues

Friday, August 31, 1984

RITA MOIR

CRESCENT VALLEY, B.C. -- By RITA MOIR Special to The Globe and Mail CRESCENT VALLEY, B.C. - Two Sons of Freedom Doukhobors are fasting in a provincial jail while they await a preliminary hearing on charges of arson, as bombings and suspected arson continue in the Kootenays.

Mary Braun, who turns 64 on Friday, and Tina Jmaeff, 59, have resumed a fast they began after being remanded in custody on July 6 while awaiting their Sept. 27 court appearance in Castlegar. They are charged with setting fire to the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society Museum.

Meanwhile, RCMP are investigating suspected arson last week at the Krestova home of Mike Sapriken. Mr. Sapriken is the son-in-law of Mary Malakoff, a Freedomite who has repeatedly levelled charges of complicity in arson at Stefan Sorokin, the leader of the Christian Community and Brotherhood of Reformed Doukhobors, a rival sect.

Mrs. Malakoff was staying with her son-in-law when fire caused an estimated $90,000 damage to a shed containing lumber, a tractor and other equipment. Police files indicate that six years ago, Mr. Sapriken's home was burned. The equipment shed went up in flames at 11:20 p.m. on Aug. 21, the same day Mrs. Malakoff appeared at a committee meeting of Government representatives to renew her charges against Mr. Sorokin.

That same night, a bomb exploded on the railway tracks near South Slocan, close to Krestova, the stronghold of the Sons of Freedom and the Reformed Doukhobors.

Several bombs have been discovered on railway lines in the Kootenays during the past three months.

There are many reasons for tensions among the Doukhobor sects: the arson, and the fact that there seems to be no clear-cut way to end the burnings; the controversial role of powerful leaders in Doukhobor history; accusations about who was responsible for the train explosion that killed Doukhobor leader Peter Lordly Verigin in 1924; and the contentious issue of land ownership among the former communal groups.

Greg Cran, project co-ordinator for the Ministry of the Attorney- General's continuing hearings on the problems among the Doukhobors, says he hopes that meetings set for next month in Castlegar will look into the land problem.

He explained earlier this week that friction between the Sons of Freedom and the Reformed group results partially from a dispute over land ownership near Krestova.

The Sons of Freedom contend that Doukhobor leader Peter Chistiakov transferred land there to them in the 1930s. They contest the ownership of Ann Sorokin, the wife of Reformed leader Stefan Sorokin. Six families that have been issued eviction notices have refused to leave.

Throughout hearings on the Doukhobors, sect members have accused leaders of opposing groups of secretly condoning and calling for arson while publicly denouncing it. Arson is used for a multitude of reasons, including promoting of religious fanaticism, keeping other sect members in line, for spiritual purification, as a statement against materialism, and as a way of sending a message to the Government that the groups want the assistance of police and elected officials in unravelling the reasons for fire and violence among the Doukhobors since they immigrated to Canada from Russia in the late nineteenth century.