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Prosecutions of alleged unlawful missionary activity escalating in Russia, with at least 34 cases reported in the first four months of 2025.

From January to April 2025, a dozen prosecutions were launched against evangelical pastors, with the majority of them being Baptist ministers. They are accused of preaching to non-believers without notifying the authorities.

Unauthorized Missionary Activities Prosecuted in Russia, Affecting at Least 34 Individuals Between...
Unauthorized Missionary Activities Prosecuted in Russia, Affecting at Least 34 Individuals Between January and April 2025

Prosecutions of alleged unlawful missionary activity escalating in Russia, with at least 34 cases reported in the first four months of 2025.

In recent months, Russia has seen a significant increase in administrative charges for "unlawful missionary activity," affecting various religious organizations and individuals, including Muslims and Baptists. This crackdown is a result of the Russian government's enforcement of its Administrative Code and Religion Law, which penalizes individuals and organizations for engaging in activities deemed as missionary work without proper approval.

## Recent Trends and Cases

In 2024, there were 431 cases of religion law violations, resulting in fines totaling 4,747,000 rubles ($58,388) in Russia[2]. In 2024 and early 2025, at least 90 and 34 individuals, respectively, were prosecuted for unlawful missionary activity[1]. Individuals face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 rubles, while foreigners may be deported[1][3].

Pastor Aleksandr Chmykh was fined 5,000 rubles for organizing worship services without submitting the required notification to the Justice Ministry[1]. Other Baptists were also prosecuted for participating in conferences[1]. A Muslim teacher in Stavropol was fined for leading prayers and Koranic studies for girls[1]. In Moscow, Muslim migrants were fined for inviting metro riders to perform prayers[2].

In occupied Ukraine, the Russian-controlled courts have also been imposing fines for alleged missionary activities. For example, Pastor Vladimir Rudomyotkin was fined for conducting missionary work without permission[3].

## Effects of Recent Amendments

Russia's Administrative Code, particularly Part 4, targets individuals engaging in missionary activities without approval[1][3]. These amendments have broadened the scope of what can be considered "missionary activity," allowing authorities to clamp down on religious groups perceived as threats. This has led to increased surveillance and penalties for religious expressions not sanctioned by the state.

## Broader Context

The Russian government's use of vague laws to target religious groups has been criticized for undermining religious freedom. The designation of certain organizations as "extremist" or "undesirable" often lacks evidence of violent activities, further complicating the legal environment for religious minorities[2].

Overall, the recent amendments and enforcement of the Administrative Code have intensified the crackdown on religious activities deemed unlawful, affecting Muslims, Baptists, and other religious groups across Russia and its occupied territories. The event included distortion of the historical understanding of the nativity and performance of hymns characteristic of Protestant denominations. Three pastors of the Council of Baptist churches were fined 5,000 Roubles each for "preaching and distributing a religious newspaper to people at worship services who were not members of the religious group."

The amendments prohibit "missionary activity" on residential premises and by anyone who is a former member of an "extremist" religious group. Amendments to several articles of the Administrative Code, which came into force on 5 February 2025, allow police to handle Article 5.26, Part 5 cases without going to court and impose both fines and administrative expulsion as punishment.

In the first four months of 2025, at least 34 individuals and religious organizations were prosecuted in Russia for "unlawful missionary activity." Registered organizations prosecuted under Part 4 can be fined up to 100,000 Roubles. A Baptist pastor was fined 20,000 Roubles for alleged missionary activity with an undetermined circle of persons. Churches in Belorechensk (also Krasnodar region), Tula, and Blagoveshchensk are also facing a similar ban on activities.

Twelve of the thirty-four cases recorded up to the end of April 2025 affected evangelicals, mostly from the Council of Baptist churches. An evangelical pastor was prosecuted for holding an informational and educational event called The Nativity of Christ without written authorization. Other pastors were charged for preaching in private houses, leading worship services without notifying the Justice Ministry, and other reasons. Witnesses stated that they attended the service upon invitation and were Orthodox and unfamiliar with the Baptist church. A witness filmed part of the service and apparently passed the footage to the police.

In the broader context, the intensified crackdown on religious activities in Russia extends to various religious groups, such as Muslims and Baptists, as witnessed by the fines imposed on Pastor Aleksandr Chmykh and other Baptists for organizing worship services and conferences. Moreover, the Russian government's enforcement of its politics surrounding religion, particularly its Administrative Code and Religion Law, has resulted in the prosecution of individuals and organizations for unlawful missionary activity, as seen in the case of the fine imposed on a Muslim teacher in Stavropol for leading prayers and Koranic studies for girls.

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