The head of the RSEB is outraged by the amendments prepared by the Ministry of Justice to the law “On Freedom of Conscience”

On October 12, 2011, an appeal was published Chairman of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists Alexei Smirnov to Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov in connection with prepared by the Ministry amendments to the law “On freedom of conscience”. Chapter The RSECB believes that the proposed changes “contradict the norms of the national and international legislation in the field of freedom of conscience”.

The author of the letter draws attention, in particular, to the fact that the Council for the State religious expertise, through which they will have to, if accepted amendments to pass all non-centralized religious structures organization, "headed by Alexander Dvorkin, a fighter against 'sects', in his the composition includes other sectarians known for their extreme intolerance towards representatives of the non-Orthodox faith”. A. Smirnov notes that “legal The status of an expert is not defined by law. At the same time, the conclusion of the GRE may be used as grounds for refusal of registration.

"It surprises and the manner in which the bill was drafted and published. Religious organizations were effectively deprived of the opportunity to take part in its discussion and comments and proposals on the text of the draft, since five days were provided for this, two of which were weekends,” the appeal says.

Recall that earlier these amendments were opposed by the initiative Baptists and the Guild of Experts in Religion and Law.

Sources

• Address of the Chairman of the RS ECB Smirnov A.V. Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation Konovalov A.V. // Slavic Legal Center. 2011. October 12.