The state Department believes the Russian authorities to oppress religious minorities
WASHINGTON, August 15. /TASS/. The state Department claims that Russian authorities continue to oppress religious minorities in the country, including summarizing their activities under the articles of the law related to extremist activities.
Such conclusion the American foreign Minister is contained in a statement on Tuesday the report on freedom of religion for the year 2016.
According to the stated information, “the government [of Russia] continues to arrest and fining of members of religious minorities and organizations suspected of extremist activity”. In addition, from the point of view of the state Department, the Russian “government has fined and deported some American citizens for participation in religious activities, in particular volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints (Mormon Church — approx. TASS)”.
The foreign Ministry, the US also drew attention to the “detentions and fines of a number of individuals for “insulting the feelings of believers in public speeches”.
In addition, from the point of view of the US authorities, “a broad definition of missionary activity in the framework of the “Spring package” meant that the authorities could assert against the individuals the charges for the distribution of religious materials or messages.” It argues that the charges in accordance with the provisions of the “Spring package” was, in particular, “brought against a number of Protestant denominations, Bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate and member of the International society for Krishna consciousness”.
At the same time, the state Department stated that, “compared with previous years, in relation to the Jewish communities used fewer government restrictions on religious activities”.