New Russian law poses threat to minority religions
PUTIN SIGNS BILL ON 'UNDESIRABLE FOREIGN
GROUPS' INTO LAW
www.rt.com, 25 May 2015
The Russian president has signed a bill banning the activities of
foreign groups that pose a threat to national security or defense
capability, and to punish those who continue to cooperate with such
groups.
The bill, initially drafted by two opposition MPs, was passed by
both chambers of the Russian parliament last week. It tasks the
Prosecutor General's Office and the Foreign Ministry with creating a
proscribed list of "undesirable foreign organizations" and to outlaw
their activities in the country. The main criterion for putting a
foreign or international NGO on the list is a "threat to the
constitutional order and defense capability, or the security of the
Russian state."
Once the group is recognized as undesirable, all its assets in
Russia must be frozen, its offices closed and distribution of any of
its information materials must be banned. [. . . ]
Editor's note: I have not yet found any news article that deals with
the potential impact of this law on specific religious groups, such
as those that have substantial international connections (Mormons,
Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology, Hare Krishna, etc.).
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