U.S. Representative Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Relations today approved a resolution he introduced calling on Russia to fully protect the freedoms of all religious communities as is required under its constitution and international commitments. 

    “Russia’s religious minorities continue to suffer from harassment and violence, with such episodes becoming alarmingly common,” said Chairman Smith (R-NJ), who has championed the causes of religious freedom and global human rights since being elected to Congress. “The resolution passed today underscores the challenges that religious communities in the Putin era face and urges the Russian government to ensure religious freedom for all.”

    Under a Russian law established in 1997, religious groups must be registered with both local and federal authorities in order to own property and enjoy legal personality. Groups that are not registered have often been subject to harassment and violence. While the national Russian government has generally been supportive, it has turned a blind eye to local officials as police raid unregistered religious communities or overlook crimes committed against religious minorities.

    “The types of distinctions between registered and unregistered religious communities are not viable under international standards,” said Smith. "Russia’s obligations are clear and unequivocal, and the resolution passed today demonstrates to Moscow and the international community that these actions will not go unnoticed."

    The State Department’s 2005 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom noted that Russia’s protections for religious minorities were insufficient. The report stated: “some federal agencies and many local authorities continued to restrict the rights of various religious minorities.” The report further noted that conditions in Russia continue to deteriorate for some minority religious faiths.

    “I’ll never forget the pictures I saw of the arson attack against a Baptist church in Tula,” said Smith. “Hate mongers threatened the church anonymously and eventually took action in the dark of night to burn the church to the ground. Local authorities offered help and attributed the explosion to a natural gas leak, ignoring the fact that the local gas company reportedly found no gas residue at the site.” 

    “Russia, as a participating state in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, has committed to meeting an international standard of religious freedom. The resolution passed today should help to remind Moscow of that fact,” said Smith.