 The open letter was published in January 2005 in "Rus Pravoslavnaya", a Russian Orthodox newspaper.Amongst the 500 signatures, Makashov was among 19 members of the State Duma (five from the Communist Party, and 14 from the Rodina Party).Makashov defended the letter in an appearance on a televised debate show hosted by Vladimir Solovyov on 3 February 2005; 53 percent of the more than 100,000 viewers who called the station maintained that Makashov got the better of his debate opponent— Alexei Leonov— who denounced Makashov for ethnic incitement.