The Russian government continues to violate the rights of religious groups “in blatant violation of international law,” a new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported.
“Throughout 2024 and the first half of 2025, Russia prosecuted members of perceived ‘non-traditional’ religious organizations for their religious activities in both Russia and Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine,” policy analyst Dylan Schexnaydre wrote.
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Russian law defines Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism as “traditional” religions, while it grants special recognition and privileges to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.
“Authorities also targeted independent civil society organizations, human rights activists working on [freedom of religion or belief], and dissidents expressing opinions involving religion,” the report stated.
The report — “Russia’s Persecution of Religious Groups and FoRB Actors” — said human rights groups have identified hundreds of people in Russian custody who were imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Ken Camp and originally published by Baptist Standard.
