One of the sections of the published annual report of the US State Department is devoted to freedom of conscience in Russia

On October 26, the US State Department released its annual report on religious freedom around the world. It analyzes the situation in this area from July 2008 to June 2009 in different countries.

Speaking about Russia , the authors of the report noted the attitude of the authorities towards some confessions (in particular, Jehovah's Witnesses) as a threat to state security. It also speaks of the hostility towards Muslims, Jews, Catholics and other non-Orthodox religions that exists in Russian society.

The report mentions cases of discrimination and attacks on religious grounds, but overall, “religious issues have not been a cause of social tension or problems for the majority of citizens.”

Sources

• MEDIA MONITORING: Russian authorities consider some confessions, in particular Jehovah's Witnesses, as a threat to the country's security. The US State Department published a report on religious freedom in the world // Portal-Credo.ru. 2009. October 27.
• The Russian authorities are promoting freedom of religion in the country - US State Department // Interfax-religion. 2009. October 27.