Russian Federation

Church in Russia is prohibited from conducting social projects

The pastor was beaten to death by unknown attackers as he was going to visit an elderly church member.

"The priest was killed because he was not indifferent to disgusting human behavior and took a principled stand against it in accordance with his calling

Russian Baptists Respond to Orthodox Priest’s Violent Death

Two Christians were arrested after their community "sang psalms and spoke about Christ'

Widespread protests by Russian religious communities and human rights defenders followed the appointment of "anti-cultists" and controversial scholars of Islam to a state body with sweeping powers to investigate religious organisations.

The chair is Aleksandr Dvorkin, Russia's most prominent "anti-cult" activist, who has described the faith of charismatic Protestants as "a crude magical-occult system with elements of psychological manipulation".

Russian Bible Society may be first target of new powers given to Russian Justice Ministry.

Fired from Moscow State University for his discriminatory views on religious minorities, "inquisitor" on non-Orthodox religious groups takes over leadership of the Justice Ministry's Council of Religious Studies Experts.

An ambitious draft law on the transfer of property of religious significance to religious organisations may reignite a process begun in 1993.

A Russian official ordered the seizure of a Pentecostal church's land by "any" means.

As the temperature in Moscow dips below zero, one of the city's largest Pentecostal churches meets for worship in a marquee on a rough patch of land in an outlying suburb.

The Church itself has faced obstruction from local officials in attempting to use or reconstruct its building, and the seminary is one of a few religious organisations on the Justice Ministry list which is not defunct or otherwise obsolete.

None of the alleged participants in two violent attacks on a Pentecostal church – by three people in the first attack and eight people in the second attack – has gained either a criminal or administrative record for the attacks.

Another view on the possible 'liquidation' of 56 religious organizations, including several Western ministries.

Baptists in the town of Lipetsk south-east of Moscow complain that the authorities are using "a bureaucratic way" to restrict their activity.

Following the surprise mid-October publication of a list of 56 centralised religious organisations scheduled for liquidation, apparently for not submitting correct accounts, Russia's Justice Ministry has refused to reveal what stage any plans for liquidation are at and precisely why the 56 organisations are on the list.

It is not clear what the motive was for murdering two Catholic priests, but it is a clear message of opposition to the church.

The gravest current threat to freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Russia comes from the federal government's approach to combating religious extremism.

Baptists in different parts of Russia have experienced state harassment in recent months.