The Government of the Russian Federation has approved draft amendments to the law “On Freedom of Conscience”, facilitating the registration of religious organizations

20 March 2014, the Government of Russia approved the bill "On the Introduction Amendments to the Federal Law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations” and recognition of the provisions of certain legislative acts as invalid Russian Federation” and decided to submit the bill to the Duma.

Recall the draft amendments were prepared by the Ministry of Justice in August 2013.

It mainly provides for the abolition of the need to confirm the 15-year term the existence of a religious group in order to register it as a religious organizations. Previously, this was recognized as unacceptable by the decision of the European Court of Human Rights.

Except In addition, the bill removes the obligation from religious organizations to annually provide information about the continuation of their activities, which does not relieve them of the reporting that is usual for all non-profit organizations.

Sources

• Decisions of the Government adopted at the meeting on March 20, 2014 // Official website of the Government of the Russian Federation. 2014. March 21.
• Federal Law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Freedom of Conscience and on Religious Associations”” // A single portal for posting information on the development of draft regulatory legal acts by federal executive authorities and the results of their public discussion. 2013. 24 August.