International Religious Freedom Report, 2013: Russia

摘要

The constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, other laws and policies restrict religious freedom. In practice the government generally did not restrict the activities of established Judeo-Christian religious groups, but imposed restrictions limiting the religious freedom of minority religious groups. Government actions toward these groups included detentions, raids, denial of official registration with the Ministry of Justice, denial of official building registration, denial of visas to religious workers, and extremism charges to ban religious materials and restrict groups right to assemble. There is no state religion, but the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) received preferential consideration. There were reports of societal abuses and discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Members of minority religious groups continued to experience harassment and occasional physical attacks. Especially after instances of extremist violence in the North Caucasus and continued media reports about the influx of Central Asian migrant workers, Muslims encountered social discrimination and antagonism in many regions of the country.