Bans on Baptist Churches Rise Across Russia

Bans on Baptist Churches Rise Across Russia

Civil bans on Baptist churches are increasing across Russia as courts intensify actions against communities that meet without state permission. Rights monitors say the pressure is growing rapidly, leaving small congregations facing surveillance, raids and a rising number of legal battles.

Forum 18, a religious freedom group that tracks state pressure on faith communities, reports that at least ten Council of Churches Baptist congregations have been affected. These communities refuse state registration. They believe they have a constitutional right to gather freely. Now they are caught in what lawyers describe as a widening net of state restrictions.

New bans were issued in several towns in the Krasnodar Region in recent months. Courts stopped church activities in Timashyovsk in mid October, in Armavir at the end of September and in Tuapse a week before that. The decisions follow what members say is a growing pattern of government efforts to control religious gatherings.

Lawyer and religious rights advocate Sergey Chugunov warned that the trend is accelerating. He posted on Telegram in late October that the practice is expanding and urged authorities to reverse the bans. His comments came shortly after the ruling against the Timashyovsk church.

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The events in Timashyovsk began with a surprise inspection in June. Officials from the Prosecutors Office entered during a worship service and conducted what members say was a disruptive examination of the church. A month later, prosecutors filed a civil suit asking the court to ban the church from meeting. The ban was eventually granted four months after the initial inspection.

The Council of Churches Baptists Intercession Department later issued a statement arguing that the raid lacked legal grounds. The statement said prosecutors did not show any evidence of violations that met the legal standard set by the Supreme Court. The group said the inspection and the subsequent ban failed to meet the threshold of being serious, repeated or harmful to society.

In Tuapse, prosecutors supported their case by pointing to earlier fines imposed on Pastor Anatoly Mukhi and other members. The fines were linked to what officials called unlawful missionary activity. These earlier penalties were then used to justify a full ban on church meetings.

Armavir also saw a ban after the city court approved the prosecutors request. Pastor Vladimir Popov had already faced several charges for hosting worship in his home. He received a five thousand Rouble fine in 2021 for leading a service. He later lost an appeal in October on another fine of ten thousand Roubles. These cases strengthened the prosecutors argument for a complete prohibition on the church.

Despite the growing pressure, Forum 18 reports that many Christian groups continue meeting. They gather quietly and choose not to stop even where bans exist. Lawyers say this puts them at risk of more fines and possible criminal charges.

Attorney Anatoly Pchelintsev, who often comments on religious freedom issues, said the situation resembles a witch hunt. He made the statement on his Telegram channel after an appeal court upheld a ban on a church in the Mari El Republic. He warned that the pattern is spreading beyond isolated regions and is becoming a national issue.

Council of Churches Baptists argue that Russian citizens have the right to worship freely without state registration. They say both the 1997 Religion Law and the Constitution protect peaceful gatherings. They also point to international human rights commitments that Russia has signed, which guarantee freedom of religion and assembly.

Russian prosecutors argue the opposite. They say that any group meeting regularly for religious purposes qualifies as a religious organization and must register. Lawyers working with Protestants say this interpretation puts many church groups at risk. Some congregations choose not to register because they believe it allows the government to interfere with internal church matters. Others say registration is unnecessary because they meet in private homes and do not operate as large institutions.

Attorney Chugunov argues that the bans issued by courts do not meet legal standards. He said a ban should only be allowed if a violation cannot be corrected. In these cases, courts told churches they only needed to submit a notification to remedy the issue. He said this means the churches could correct the alleged violation and therefore banning them was unlawful.

A proposed new bill in the State Duma could escalate the situation further. On June sixteen, lawmakers introduced an amendment that would prohibit public worship and religious rites in private homes and apartment buildings. The bill also seeks to prevent the Justice Ministry from registering any religious group that uses such premises.

Lawmakers said the gatherings disturb neighbors and could increase crime. An explanatory note claimed that large groups of strangers entering residential buildings put communities at risk and create safety problems.

Novaya Gazeta Europe reported in August that the amendment would affect most Council of Churches Baptist prayer rooms. Many of these groups meet in homes or small rented spaces because they are not registered with the government.

The Federal Government questioned the proposal in early October. Officials said the bill needed significant revision because the existing Religion Law allows worship in homes. It is uncertain whether the State Duma will pass the bill in its current form.

Pchelintsev criticized lawmakers for creating confusion. He said that instead of passing harsh rules, they should clarify the law and protect the rights of believers. His comments reflect growing concern among legal experts who fear that vague rules will lead to more bans and more repression.

Several other churches in Krasnodar Region have already felt this pressure. The Kurganinsk Church had its building sealed by bailiffs. Members were forced to gather outside after officials closed the property. Pastor Aleksandr Chmykh challenged the ban, but he lost multiple appeals. The Supreme Court later dismissed his final attempt without consideration.

The Rodniki Church in the same region also faced a ban late last year. It became legally binding in April after Pastor Vladimir Gordiyenko lost an appeal. The decision was upheld again by a regional court in late October.

Churches in the Mari El Republic continue to face similar orders. A city court banned the Yoshkar Ola Church in July and enforced the ban in October after a failed Supreme Court appeal.

Another Baptist church in Blagoveshchensk in the Russian Far East is facing a civil lawsuit as well. A hearing was scheduled for mid November, and members expect a ruling soon. Many fear another ban is likely.

Across Russia, Baptist churches say they remain committed to peaceful worship. They insist they will continue gathering, even under pressure. Their leaders say they are defending not only their faith but also basic civil rights.

As bans rise and legal battles intensify, the question many ask is whether Russia will allow space for small religious communities to meet freely or whether the pressure will continue to grow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit : Boluwatife Abiola

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