The Maikop City Court confirmed that holding Sunday services in rented premises does not require separate approval from the authorities

On October 10, 2012, the Maykop City Court accepted the decision to close the administrative case due to the absence of corpus delicti, initiated against the pastor of the Christian center "Renaissance" of the Association of Evangelical Christians "Global Strategy".

Administrative the case was initiated against the pastor of the local congregation under Art. 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of the established procedure for organizing or holding a meeting) in July 2012 after police officers visited the Sunday service of the Maykop community of Pentecostal Christians, taking place in the rented premises. The Supreme Court imposed a fine of 10 thousand rubles.

The decision of the world court was challenged by the lawyers of Slavyansky legal center.

“ The absurdity of this situation is that the assembly of believers is not a public event expressing attitude towards anything and does not require the approval of the authorities. Believers have the right without any agreements to hold worship services both in places of worship and in residential and rented buildings. The decision of the world court looked ridiculous, but if it remained in force, a dangerous precedent would be set which could later become the basis for making such decisions ,” lawyer Vladimir Ryakhovsky comments on the process.

Sources

• Judicial fuss in an empty place // Slavic Legal Center. 2012. October 13.