Moscow, Apr. 26, 2007 (Forum 18/CWNews.com) - Russia's central authorities do not have a policy of restricting freedom of religion or belief, the Forum 18 news service reports. But their failure actively to tackle discrimination produces a slow erosion of religious freedom.
Senior Russian state representatives, such as President Putin, continue to project an image of supporting "traditional religions" such as the Russian Orthodox Church, Forum 18 notes. But this does not translate into day-to-day decision making, as religious affairs are a low national priority.
Decisions are normally made at a low level, so the religious-freedom situation varies even between towns.
One exception is support by senior state representatives for religious leaders who endorse them, such as Pentecostal bishop Sergei Ryakhovsky. Legal discrimination is rare, even against communities such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, and where it exists does not completely halt religious activity. So-called "telephone law" and blocking some foreign religious workers have been the main sources of religious-freedom violations.
Acquiring or retaining worship buildings is a major problem, and affects Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Hare Krishna devotees, Jehovah's Witnesses, Molokans, and the Russian Orthodox Church. Widening the legal definition of terrorism and extremism is a particularly concern for Muslims.
[For a more detailed report see the Forum 18 web site.]