Pentecostal pastor fined for “illegal” missionary work in Voskresensk

Pentecostal pastor fined in Voskresensk near Moscow allegedly inciting to the adoption of "their religion" those who came to the meeting of the Orthodox.  

March 15, 2018 Magistrate's Court of Court District No. 17 Voskresensky district of the Moscow region fined the pastor of the local church Evangelical Christians (Pentecostals) "The Word of Life" by Vladimir Zakharchuk according to Part 1 Art. 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (obstruction of the exercise of the right to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, including the adoption of religious or other beliefs or renunciation of them, joining or leaving a religious association) 10 thousand rubles.

On December 17, 2017, at a community meeting, he, according to the court, forced to the adoption of "their religion" of two people. One of the victims claimed that came with a friend to the meeting, having learned about him from the Internet, and in Zakharchuk's sermon heard "hints that our Orthodox faith is not real, but his real." None there was no other pressure, according to the victims. Both victims, according to them According to him, before that they went to “different temples” and listened to sermons. listening to music and a sermon in the "Word of Life", contacted the police with a request to check this church.

According to the pastor's lawyer, the protocol was drawn up with violation of the terms and with the wrong indication of the time of the service, and the victims themselves were not seen at the service on the day on which they refer. But three law enforcement officers came to the service organs and disrupted the service.

Sources

• The police disrupted the service in the Word of Life church in Voskresensk and fined the pastor // Religion and law. March 27, 2018