RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


First case against believer on basis of new law flops

NO FINE FOR KRISHNAITE IN CHERKESSK FOR VIOLATION OF LAW ON FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE

by Margarita Savelieva

RIA Novosti, 15 August 2016

 

A court in Karachay-Cherkesia did not want to fine Krishnaite Vadim Sibirev for violation of the law on freedom of conscience, which was changed after the adoption of the "Yarovaya Package," attorney Mikhail Frolov told RIA Novosti.

 

It was reported earlier that a case for administrative violation of law was opened against a resident of the republic, Vadim Sibirev, after he gave a religious publication to a city resident. Later the man sent to the police a request to bring the Krishnaite to account, since he violated the law on freedom of conscience, which, in the opinion of the accuser, forbids missionary activity in public places. Sibirev faced a fine of from 5 to 50 thousand rubles.

 

"Proceedings with respect to Sibirev were terminated because of the absence of the basic element of a violation of law," Frolov noted. This is the first case in Russia that was provided for by part 4 of article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Violation of Law of the RF "Violation of legislation concerning freedom of conscience, freedom of religious confession, and religious associations."

 

According to the anti-terrorism "Yarovaya Package," amendments in the law on freedom of conscience pertained to missionary activity which specified the procedure of its implementation.

 

Krishnaites are followers of one of the religious movements in Hinduism that worships one of the numerous incarnations of the god Vishnu—Krishna. (tr. by PDS, posted 16 August 2016)

 

COURT IN KARACHAY-CHERKESIA DISMISSES CASE OF KRISHNAITE WHO VIOLATED LAW OUT OF THE "YAROVAYA PACKAGE"

Interfax-Religiia, 15 August 2016

 

A magistrate court of Cherkesia dismissed an administrative case against a Krishnaite from Nizhny Novgorod province who was charged with distributing religious literature on the street.

 

"According to the court's decision, the case against Dzerzhinsk resident Vadim Sibirev was dismissed because of the absence of the basic element of a violation of law," Soltan Bairamukov, the press secretary of the Supreme Court of KChR, told Interfax.

 

He explained that the administrative case was opened after V. Sibirev talked about Vishnavism (one of the main movements of Hinduism—IF) with a passerby this summer on the street in Cherkessk and gave him religious literature. V. Sibirev was in KChR visiting friends.

 

He was charged under article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Violation of Law of the RF (violation of legislation regarding freedom of conscience, freedom of religious confession and religious associations).

 

According to amendments adopted that were provided by the "Yarovaya Package," missionary activity may be conducted only by registered organizations and only in premises especially designated for it. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 August 2016)


Background articles:
Defense attorney of defendant in anti-evangelism trial speaks out
August 12, 2016
Antievangelism law goes to court
August 7, 2016


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