Jonah Patel
The Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the country's religious freedom conditions continue to deteriorate. While the Constitution provides for freedom of religion, the government targets non-traditional religious minorities with fines, detentions, and criminal charges under the pretext of combating extremism. The Constitution stipulates that the state is secular and provides for religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religious worship, including the right to profess any religion individually or jointly. However, in practice, there have been allegations of religious persecution and unequal treatment of religious groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious freedom | Guaranteed right under the Russian Constitution |
| Equality of religious groups | Guaranteed by the 1990 Soviet Law and Religious Freedom |
| Secular nature of the government | Stipulated in the Constitution |
| Freedom of conscience | Guaranteed in Chapter 1, Article 14, and Chapter 2, Articles 28 and 29 of the 1993 Constitution |
| Freedom of worship | Guaranteed in Chapter 1, Article 14, and Chapter 2, Articles 28 and 29 of the 1993 Constitution |
| Freedom of thought and speech | Guaranteed in Chapter 2 of the Constitution |
| Equality of rights and liberties | Guaranteed regardless of attitude toward religion |
| Protection of human rights | Guaranteed by the state, including the right to defend rights in court |
| Restrictions on religious rights | Permitted by the government to maintain security and protect moral, health, and legal interests |
| Reporting requirements for religious organizations | Reduced by the government, simplifying accounting procedures |
| Extremism laws | Used to target "non-traditional" religious minorities, including Jehovah's Witnesses |
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What You'll Learn
The Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion
The Russian Constitution does guarantee freedom of religion. This is provided for in Chapter 1, Article 14, and Chapter 2, Articles 28 and 29 of the 1993 Constitution. These articles forbid the federal government from declaring a state or mandatory religion, permit the freedoms of conscience and profession of faith, and forbid state advocacy that purports superiority of any group over another on religious grounds. The Constitution also stipulates that the state is secular and provides for the freedom of conscience and religious worship, including the right to "profess, individually or jointly with others, any religion, or to profess no religion".
However, it is important to note that there are also clauses in the Constitution that permit the federal government to restrict human rights where it is deemed necessary and under specific conditions. This includes the restriction of religious rights to protect the constitutional structure and security of the government, the morality, health, rights, and legal interests of persons, or the defence of the country. As such, the Russian Constitution does not guarantee "religious freedom" as it would be defined in other nations.
In practice, there have been allegations of religious persecution and unequal treatment of religious groups in Russia. The government has targeted "nontraditional" religious minorities with fines, detentions, and criminal charges under the pretext of combating "extremism". For example, Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned in Russia as an extremist organization, and members have been fined and punished criminally for practising their religion. There have also been reports of difficulties faced by religious organizations, particularly Protestants, in using existing buildings, with authorities even demanding the demolition of buildings already in use.
While the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the practical implementation of this right has been contested, with reports of restrictions and challenges faced by religious minorities in the country.
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The government respects this right in practice
The Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. Chapter 1, Article 14, and Chapter 2, Articles 28 and 29 of the 1993 Constitution forbid the federal government from declaring a state or mandatory religion. The Constitution also permits the freedom of conscience, profession of faith, and forbids state advocacy that purports superiority of any group over another based on religious grounds.
The Constitution provides for equality of rights and liberties regardless of attitude toward religion. It also guarantees the freedom of thought and speech, with the impermissible nature of propaganda or campaigning inciting social, racial, national or religious hatred and strife. Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to freely return to the country and are guaranteed the right to freedom of conscience and religious worship. This includes the right to profess any religion or no religion, to freely choose and disseminate religious beliefs, and to act in conformity with them.
In practice, the Russian government has taken steps to respect the right to freedom of religion. For example, after lobbying by religious groups, the government reduced the reporting requirements for religious organizations and extended the financial reporting deadline of the NGO Law. The government also simplified accounting procedures for these organizations. While the Constitution does not grant explicit privileges to the four "traditional" religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism), it is worth noting that the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) cooperates more closely with the government than other faiths.
However, there have been some concerns and challenges regarding freedom of religion in Russia. The government has targeted "nontraditional" religious minorities with fines, detentions, and criminal charges under the pretext of combating "extremism". The term "extremism" is not adequately defined in Russian legislation, enabling the state to prosecute a broad range of nonviolent religious activity. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned in Russia as an extremist organization, with members facing fines and criminal punishment for practicing their faith. There have also been reports of Muslims and Protestants facing difficulties in using existing buildings for religious practices, with authorities demanding the demolition of some buildings.
While the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the government's respect for this right in practice has been mixed. There have been positive steps taken, such as reducing reporting requirements for religious organizations, but also concerns about the targeting of religious minorities and the lack of clarity around the definition of "extremism".
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The ROC has more influence than other faiths
The Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion in Chapter 1, Article 14, and Chapter 2, Articles 28 and 29 of the 1993 constitution. These articles forbid the federal government from declaring a state or mandatory religion, permit the freedoms of conscience and profession of faith, and forbid state advocacy that purports the superiority of any group over another on religious grounds. The constitution also guarantees the equality of rights and liberties regardless of attitude to religion, and the freedom of thought and speech.
However, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) has been known to disseminate negative publications and hold protest meetings against other religions, including alternative Orthodox congregations. Some ROC clergy have publicly opposed the expansion of the presence of non-Orthodox denominations, such as Roman Catholics and Protestants. The ROC has also lobbied the government to reduce reporting requirements for religious organizations, and the ROC cooperates more closely with the government than other faiths.
The ROC's influence can be seen in the construction of new churches, which remains a source of tension in society, and in the prosecution of Muslims and Protestants for illegal missionary activities. The ROC also has a history of violent clashes with Bolshevik officials during the Russian Civil War, as they were perceived as a "counter-revolutionary" force.
In summary, while the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the ROC has more influence than other faiths due to its close cooperation with the government and its active resistance to non-Orthodox religions. The ROC's influence has led to tensions in society and the persecution of religious minorities.
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The constitution permits freedom of conscience
The Russian Constitution does permit freedom of conscience, as well as freedom of religion and worship. This is guaranteed in Chapter 1, Article 14, and Chapter 2, Articles 28 and 29 of the 1993 Constitution. The Constitution also forbids the federal government from declaring a state or mandatory religion.
The Constitution states that everyone has the right to:
> "profess, individually or jointly with others, any religion, or to profess no religion, to freely choose, possess and disseminate religious or other beliefs, and to act in conformity with them."
The Constitution also protects the right to freedom of thought and speech, and forbids propaganda or campaigning that incites social, racial, national or religious hatred and strife. No one may be coerced into expressing their views or convictions, or into renouncing them.
However, there is a clause in Chapter 2, Article 55, that permits the federal government to restrict human rights where it is deemed necessary and under specific conditions. This includes the right to restrict religious rights to protect the constitutional structure and security of the government, the morality, health, rights, and legal interests of persons, or the defence of the country.
In practice, there have been allegations of religious persecution and unequal treatment of religious groups. The government has targeted “nontraditional” religious minorities with fines, detentions, and criminal charges under the pretext of combating "extremism". The term "extremism" is not adequately defined, enabling the state to prosecute a wide range of nonviolent religious activity. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been banned in Russia as an extremist organization, with members facing fines and criminal punishment for professing their religion.
While the Constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion, the practical implementation of these rights can be complex and subject to interpretation.
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Religious freedom conditions in Russia are worsening
The Russian Constitution does guarantee freedom of religion. However, religious freedom conditions in Russia are worsening. While the Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government of Russia generally respected this right in practice, there are several factors that restrict this freedom.
Firstly, the Constitution permits the federal government to restrict human rights where it is deemed necessary and under specific conditions. This means that "religious freedom" as defined in other nations is not guaranteed. For example, religious organizations, most often Protestants, face difficulties with using existing buildings. In some cases, the authorities have even demanded the demolition of buildings used by religious organizations.
Secondly, the Russian government targets “nontraditional” religious minorities with fines, detentions, and criminal charges under the pretext of combating "extremism". The definition of "extremism" is vague, enabling the state to prosecute a wide range of nonviolent religious activity. For instance, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been banned in Russia as an extremist organization, with members facing fines and criminal punishment for practicing their religion.
Thirdly, while the law acknowledges four "traditional" religions, including Islam, Muslims are often prosecuted for illegal missionary activities. This prosecution is part of a broader policy of strengthening pressure on religious minorities considered disloyal to the Russian government.
Lastly, the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) cooperates more closely with the Government than other faiths. Conservative activists claiming ties to the ROC occasionally disseminate negative publications and hold protest meetings against other religions. Some ROC clergy have publicly opposed the expansion of non-Orthodox denominations, such as Roman Catholics and Protestants.
In conclusion, while the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, various factors, including vague laws, government restrictions, and discrimination against religious minorities, have led to a deterioration in religious freedom conditions in the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Russian Constitution provides for freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of religious worship.
The Russian Constitution stipulates that the state is secular and provides for the right of citizens "to freely choose, possess, and disseminate religious or other beliefs, and to act in conformity with them". It also provides for equality of rights and liberties regardless of attitude toward religion.
While the Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, there are some restrictions. The Constitution permits the federal government to restrict human rights where it is deemed necessary and under specific conditions, such as protecting the constitutional structure and security of the government. In practice, there have been allegations of religious persecution and unequal treatment of religious groups. The government targets "nontraditional" religious minorities and has criminalized "extremism" without a clear definition, enabling the prosecution of nonviolent religious activity.
The law in Russia acknowledges Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism as the country's four "traditional" religions. It also recognizes the special role of Russian Orthodox Christianity in the country's history and cultural development.
