Religious freedom conditions in Russia continue to deteriorate. The government targets “nontraditional” religious minorities with fines, detentions and criminal charges under the pretext of combating extremism. Russian legislation criminalizes “extremism” without adequately defining the term, enabling the state to prosecute a vast range of nonviolent religious activity.

Source: View shows mosque in Moscow, RUETERS / Karpukhin

RELIGIOUS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Ivan Matsitsky

In 2016, a St. Petersburg regional department of the Federal Security Service (FSB) initiated a criminal investigation which ultimately determined that illegal entrepreneurship from the local Scientology community generated around 280… Read More >

RELIGIOUS PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE

Dennis Christensen

Dennis Ole Christensen is a Danish citizen who lives in Oryol, Russia. Before his detention, he worked as a carpenter while living with his wife, Irina Christensen, who is a Russian citizen.

As of May 2019, Russian authorities… Read More >

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RFE/RL: U.S. State Department Adds Russia To Register Of World's 'Worst Violators' Of Religious Freedom

USCIRF Appalled at Administration’s Removal of Nigeria from List of Violators of Religious Freedom

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USCIRF Appalled at Administration’s Removal of Nigeria from List of Violators of Religious Freedom

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Newsweek: It’s Time to Get Concerned About Russia

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The Hill: The List No One Wants to Be On

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