Professor, Doctor of Philosophy Marianna Shakhnovich commented for the SOVA Center on the creation of an expert council on theology at the Higher Attestation Commission. Exactly what I talked about several years ago happened. It was obvious that this whole story had nothing to do with theology in the real sense of the word. The passport for the specialty “Theology” at the Higher Attestation Commission is almost identical to the passport for the specialty “Religious Studies”.

On August 5, 2016, the Federal List was updated again extremist materials. Items were added to it. 3721 - 3762. List replenished the materials of Nazi skinheads and neo-pagans on the Internet, the book Vyacheslav Demin "Union of non-Russians and non-Christs", Dmitry Nesterov's novel "Skins: Rus' awakens”, texts of the public association “Revenge”. Update of the Federal List of Extremist Materials dated August 5, 2016 3721.

We are publishing a commentary by Galina Shirokalova, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science of the Nizhny Novgorod State Agricultural Academy, on the message about the demolition of the temple complex in the Jewish settlement “Divya Loka”. I have been to Divya Loka three times. The last time was in the winter of 2016.

US State Department releases report on religious freedom in the world in 2015. Russia is mentioned among the countries having problems in this sphere. On August 10, 2016, the US State Department released its annual report on religious freedom. The authors of the report note that in 2015 the Russian government restricted the activities of religious minorities.

In August 2016, in Samara, the case against 21-year-old local resident who posted audio clips, images from texts containing various calls for violence against certain ethnic and religious groups.

From the federal budget for the restoration of monasteries and patriarchal farmsteads within the framework of the federal program for 2016 allocated 314.5 million rubles. On August 16, 2016 it became known about allocation from federal budget 314.5 million rubles for the restoration of more than 20 monasteries and patriarchal mansions. The funds were allocated within the framework of the federal target program "Culture Russia (2012-2018)".

Three more were convicted for involvement in the activities of the "Petersburg cell" of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Two of them received 16 and 17 years in a strict regime colony. On August 17, 2016, the Moscow District Military Court, at an offsite hearing in St. Petersburg, delivered a verdict on three defendants in the case of the St. Petersburg cell of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Karim Ibragimov was sentenced to 17 years, and Eldar Ramazanov - to 16 years in a strict regime colony under Part 1 of Art.

The following is our review of the primary and most representative events in the misuse of anti-extremist legislation in Russia in July 2016.

On the air of Echo of Moscow, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin said that killing people is “possible and necessary,” the commandment “thou shalt not kill” is “not unconditional,” and humanism is a “satanic worldview.” On August 15, 2016, Echo of Moscow aired the “Personally Yours” program, the guest of which was Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, former head of the Synodal Department for Interaction between Church and Society. The priest made a number of shocking statements.

An expert council has been created under the Higher Attestation Commission in theology, headed by the President of the Russian State Humanitarian University Efim Pivovar. On August 11, 2016 it became known about the approval of the expert council for theology at the Higher Attestation Commission (VAK). Elected Chairman of the Council President of the Russian State Humanitarian University Efim Pivovar, his deputies - Head of the Department of Philosophy of Religion Orthodox St.