GlobalGuide

Overview:

Christians in Russia who are not part of the Russian Orthodox Church are legally restricted in several activities of their faith, especially evangelism. While the Putin regime hasn’t yet used these laws to severely persecute Christians in Russia, there is great concern at how ideologies, such as the “Russian World” (Russkiy Mir), that lead to persecution are being instilled in Russians through media portrayals, government edicts and Russian Orthodox Church teaching. For example, Russia’s 2016 Yarovaya Law (named for the law’s political champion, Irina Yarovaya) claims to counter terrorism and secure public safety, but the law restricts Christians’ freedom of worship and evangelism. The law and its amendments characterize Christians and churches outside the Russian Orthodox Church as religious extremists, criminalizing the speech and activities of Russian Christians who faithfully witness for Christ.

Christians in Russian-controlled areas outside the country face increased restrictions and suffer violence at the hands of those acting on behalf of the Putin regime. In these areas, all Christian activity is tightly controlled by severely restrictive religious laws. Churches outside the Russian Orthodox Church, even those that previously had been legally registered, are being denied permission to exist, and unregistered churches face punishment. All Christian literature must be approved by Russian-backed authorities before it can be legally distributed. In addition to these restrictions, churches have been violently attacked, pastors have been attacked and abducted, and some pastors have been killed.

With respect to Putin’s war with Ukraine, the intent of the war is not to persecute Christians but rather to further Putin’s consolidation of power. However, elements of persecution are occurring within the context of war. Persecution has been used as a tactic to isolate Christians who are opposed to Putin and his regime. While Putin is not opposed to (Orthodox) Christianity and has publicly espoused conservative moral values, even presenting himself as the “protector of Christianity” in Russia, he is opposed to the West and views evangelical Christianity as being connected to the West. Some Christians with connections to the West have been targeted for persecution, while Russian Christians who do not oppose the regime still meet openly in their churches.

In Muslim-majority regions of the North Caucasus, such as Chechnya and Dagestan, Christians face persecution from their families and communities.