Russian courts have banned three Baptist churches in the southern Krasnodar region for failing to register with the government, religious freedom watchdog Forum 18 reports.
The churches belong to the Council of Churches Baptists, which has already had seven other congregations banned. The reason for the targeting of these congregations remains unclear, but officials have cited cases of “unlawful missionary activity” in the area.
“When a church is banned, it is prohibited from meeting not only at its usual location but anywhere in the city or district,” said Russian attorney Anatoly Pchelintsev. “I have a question for deputies who pass restrictive laws so quickly: why not provide clear legislation so believers are not harassed?”
The Council of Churches Baptists was founded during the Cold War to resist Soviet control over religious congregations. Unlike registered churches, which were strictly regulated by the state, these churches deliberately chose to remain unregistered.
Today, the Council continues to meet openly but only in private homes or on private property to maintain its independence from state oversight.
