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Understanding Russia
Russia stands out among the countries of Europe in that it never fully directly experienced the influences of the Renaissance, Reformation, or the Enlightenment. Individualism, human rights, freedom of religion, and other typical Western ideals are not indigenous to Russian culture and people.
Slavery, or rather serfdom, was not abolished in Russia until February 1861, but many farmers continued to bear huge obligations to their landlords. Parliamentary democracy, as it developed in Western Europe (and later in the USA), never took hold in Russia. Instead, the country has known only authoritarian forms of government ever since the early Middle Ages.
On 24 February 2022, President Vladimir Putin sent armed forces into Ukraine. This armed conflict is still continuing to this day and has caused a high death-toll, great displacement of citizens, and the destruction of many religious buildings and homes of Christians. On 20 March 2023, Human Rights Without Frontiers reported that 500 religious buildings had been damaged in the first year of fighting, and more than 20 religious leaders (not all Christians) had been deliberately killed.
Recent New Laws Impacting Christian Activity
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13 July 2012: The State Duma overwhelmingly approved a bill concerning foreign-funded NGOs active in the political field. Christian charitable activities were also affected (RFE-RL, 21 July 2018). Christian charities now fully depend on donations from Russian citizens.
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6 July 2016: The "Yarovaya law" is passed that has had a growing impact on Russian Christians in 3 areas: religious literature, missionary activities, and house meetings for Bible study. Hundreds of Christians have been interrogated, brought under court hearings and/or fined - most of them Protestants. Outdoor religious activities and sharing information on social media has been almost impossible unless applications are made to the authorities for special permission. It has also impeded work with children.
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22 July 2020: The Russian government passed a new law that prohibits foreign participation or guidance in Russian religious associations. The intention would seem to be aimed at blocking Christians in Russia - except the Russian Orthodox Church - from having contact with Christians abroad (Source: Asia News, 23 July 2020).
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1 Dec 2022: A law is passed that expands the definition of foreign agents to include anyone who is "under foreign influence". Critics say this will make it easier for the state to target its domestic critics. (Source: RFE-RL, 14 July 2022)