On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations

The most controversial excerpts of the bill, On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations:*

From the Preamble:

“ ... Respecting Orthodoxy as an inseparable part of the all-Russian historical, spiritual and cultural heritage, and equally Islam, with its millions of members, and also Buddhism, Judaism and other religions traditionally existing in the Russian Federation ...”

Defining a Religious Organization

Article 8.5.

“A centralized religious organization which has been functioning in the Russian Federation for no fewer than 50 years can be recognized as All-Russian by a decision of the Government of the Russian Federation if the organization has local religious organizations in no fewer than half the subjects of the Russian Federation, or in no fewer than three subjects of the Russian Federation as ethnic-cultural formations.”

Creating a Religious Organization

Article 9.1.

“Local religious organizations are formed on the initiative of adult citizens of the Russian Federation, who join together as a religious group which must have confirmation from the organs of the local government that it has existed for no less than 15 years on the said territory, or confirmation from a centralized religious organization of the same creed that it forms part of its structure.”

Disbanding a Religious Organization

Article 14.2.

Grounds for liquidating a religious organization or for banning the activities of a religious organization or religious group by judicial order are: the undermining of social order and security or threats to the security of the State, actions aimed at forcibly changing the foundations of the constitutional structure or destroying the unity of the Russian Federation; the creation of armed units; propaganda of war; the igniting of social, racial, national or religious dissension or hatred between people; forcing a familty to disintegrate; the infringement of damage established in accordance with the law on the morality or health of citizens; encouraging suicide or the refusal on religous grounds of medical help to persons in life-endangering or health-engandering conditions; hindering the receiving of compulsory education; forcing members and followers of the religious association or other persons to alienate property which belongs to them for the use of the religious association; inciting citizens to refuse to fulfill their civic obligations established by law, or to perform other disorderly actions.

Notable Quotes

“Yeltsin himself would probably rather not sign a bill that would clearly restrict freedom of conscience in Russia ... Yeltsin should thus be confident that, in vetoing the law, he is not engaging in petty politics but is defending Russia’s basic law.”

– The Moscow Times, the leading English language daily in Moscow.

“When dealing with such a delicate question as religious issues, traditionally vital for Russia, the Kremlin should be guided by the interests of this country’s people rather than by personal sympathies to its foreign partners. No doubt, Yeltsin should advocate human rights, but not forget about keeping a reasonable sense of proportion.”

– The Moscow Tribune, competitor to The Moscow Times.

“Recently, former US Secretary of State Zbigniew Brzezinski expressed a puzzling phrase: ‘After the destruction of Communism, America’s only remaining enemy is Russian Orthodoxy.’ I do not know why he considers that Orthodoxy is America’s enemy. But the attempt to teach the Russian people Christianity through an English translator on all television channels and the invasion of numerous sects that are foreign to our nation testify that western ideologues understand better than we do the chief strength and fundamental source of the might of Russia.”

– Nikita Mikhalkov, film director (Burnt by the Sun),

in an opinion piece in the liberal newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta.