This article first published by the George Washington University's Russia Program focuses on Roman Silantyev, an academic public expert on Islam commissioned by the prosecution in the notorious case of theater director Yevgeniya Berkovich and playright Svetlana Petriichuk. Due to this case, the general public learned about the pseudo-science of “destructology” created by Silantyev, an important figure in the “political wing” of the Russian Orthodox Church who interacts frequently with state repression and propaganda apparatus.
We present the latest annual report by SOVA Research Center on freedom of conscience in Russia.
In late August and early September 2023, at least three girls wearing Muslim headscarves were attacked in Moscow and the Moscow region.
On March 20th, 2014, the Russian government confirmed a bill “On amending Federal Law ‘On freedom of conscience and religious associations’ and abrogating provisions of certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation”, and made the decision to submit the bill to the Duma. The change primarily drops the requirement to confirm that a religious group has existed for at least 15 years in order to be registered as a religious organization.
SOVA Research Center took part in the 2024 OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (October 2 - 13). Here we publish our statement at the Plenary Session 7 "Fundamental freedoms II" on October 7.
SOVA Center took part in the 2022 OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference (October 2 - 13). Here we publish the statement made by the center’s expert Olga Sibireva at the Plenary Session IV "Fundamental freedoms II" on October 6.
On August 11, 2023, Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre and SOVA Center for Information and Analysis made a submission to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regarding the non-implementation of the European Court for Human Rights’ judgment and the Committee’s recommendations on Jehovah’s Witnesses cases by the Russian authorities.
