Religious freedom conditions in Russia are particularly severe as the government criminalizes the activities of multiple peaceful religious groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses,  often labeling such organizations as “terrorist,” “extremist,” or “undesirable.” Russia frequently persecutes religious leaders for expressing religiously-based opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and enforces its legal framework on the religious activity on the Ukrainian territory it illegally occupies. 

Religious freedom conditions in Laos remain poor. The government uses Decree 315 to deprive the religious freedom of minority religious communities. Central and local governments use administrative regulations to hinder joining Buddhist religious orders and to prevent the construction of minority houses or worship.

Religious freedom conditions in Kazakhstan are poor for all religious communities, particularly Muslims who deviate from the state’s preferred interpretation of Islam. Authorities arbitrarily enforce vague and often onerous provisions of the 2011 religion law and the 2005 extremism law to penalize peaceful religious activities. The government heavily promotes and invests in interfaith engagement to distract from its ongoing religious freedom violations.