SOVA Research Center took part in the 2024 OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (October 2 - 13). Here we publish our statement at the Plenary Session 7 "Fundamental freedoms II" on October 7.
Dear moderator, dear participants!
I would like to draw your attention to several issues concerning freedom of religion or belief in Russia today.
1. The unlawful persecution of religious organizations deemed 'extremist' continues. Jehovah's Witnesses face the most severe persecution among these groups, with many members receiving real prison sentences merely for practicing their faith. As of early September 2024, 133 believers were incarcerated in penal colonies and pre-trial detention centers.
2. Over the past year, the list of religious organizations declared 'undesirable' in Russia has expanded. It now includes three evangelical non-governmental organizations from the USA, Canada, and Finland (two affiliates of the religious organization Great Commission Media Ministries - Canadian Great Commission Media Ministries and American Great Commission Media Ministries - and their affiliate International Russian Radio & Television from Finland). Also added to the list were three Jehovah's Witnesses organizations (German Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah's Witnesses Selters/Taunus, Ukrainian Religious Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Ukraine, and the American Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania).
Followers of organizations already on the list were subjected to administrative and criminal prosecution. Over the past year, at least 11 people faced administrative or criminal punishment for cooperation with undesirable religious organizations. Additionally, at least 13 persons were declared suspects in new criminal cases
3. The List of Individuals - Foreign Agents has expanded to include new religious figures. Among them are Bishop Albert Ratkin of the 'Word of Life' Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), priest Grigory Mikhnov-Vaitenko of the Apostolic Orthodox Church, and Andrei Kuraev, a former protodeacon of the Russian Orthodox Church who is now a cleric of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Both Kuraev and Ratkin were brought to administrative responsibility for violating the foreign agents' protocol.
4. For many years, Muslim prayer rooms across various regions have been subjected to regular inspections by law enforcement agencies. These inspections often disrupt worship services and are frequently accompanied by rudeness and even violence towards believers. Over the past year, the intensity of such raids has increased due to the tightening of migration policies and mobilization measures. Consequently, some Muslim houses of worship have closed or suspended their activities.
Our recommendations for OSCE Member States
To abandon the practice of recognizing organizations as extremist and banning organizations on the basis of their doctrine as such, including the assertion of the superiority of their religion over others. And, accordingly, abandon the practice of prosecuting followers of the relevant religious movements for religious meetings and joint prayers as participation in banned organizations. (In Russia, this applies, for example, to Jehovah's Witnesses, followers of Said Nursi (banned as the Nurcular organization), Tablighi Jamaat, and Alla Ayat).
To abandon bans on books and other religious materials on similar grounds. It is even better not to use the mechanism of creating a list of banned books and other materials at all.
To abandon the use of the concepts of "undesirable organization," "foreign agent," and similar defamatory labels that are not based on clear legal criteria, including in relation to religious associations.
Abolish far-fetched restrictions on preaching and other religious statements that narrow down the freedom of such statements more than the freedom of expression in general. (In Russia, repeal the "anti-missionary" amendments from the 2016 Yarovaya Package).
