Tag: Oryol

A ‘dire time for human rights in Russia’ as World Cup begins

June 14, 2018 Russia Crimea, Dagestan, Don Ossewaarde, Football, Human rights, Jehovah's Witnesses, Oryol, Religious freedom, Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, Yarovaya Law

The 2018 FIFA World Cup started today with a kick-off at the Luzhniki stadium in the capital Moscow. (Photo: Sandra Montanez - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

“This is a very dire time for human rights in Russia,” according to the Russia programme director for Human Rights Watch, Tanya Lokshina, speaking ahead of the start of the 2018 Football World Cup, which kicked off in Moscow earlier today. Since Vladimir Putin became Russia’s president again in 2012 . . . Read More

Rights group tells Russia to ‘properly respect’ religious freedom

March 7, 2018 Russia Don Ossewaarde, Europe, Jehovah's Witnesses, Minorities, Oryol, Religious freedom, Russia, Yarovaya Law

Religious freedom advocate ADF International is today (7 March) filing a third-party brief with the European Court of Human Rights, arguing “for the right to religious freedom to be properly respected in Russia”. (Such a brief is a statement by a third party, usually an NGO or academic, which has . . . Read More

Growing list of Christians charged under Russia’s ‘anti-missionary law’

August 17, 2017 Russia Crimea, Don Ossewaarde, Jehovah's Witnesses, Oryol, Russia, Soviet Union, Yarovaya Law

A year on from Russia introducing its “anti-missionary bill” in July 2016, more than 180 cases have been brought before court, with prosecutions steadily increasing throughout the 12-month period. The list of cases against 129 individuals and 52 religious communities, published by regional news agency Forum 18, includes missionary activity . . . Read More

US missionary appeals to European Court of Human Rights over Russian law

March 29, 2017 Russia Don Ossewaarde, Oryol, Pentecostals, Russia, Seventh-day Adventists, Yarovaya Law

UPDATE (29 March 2017) Today, Donald Ossewaarde filed an application to the European Court of Human Rights. The US Baptist preacher argues his right to religious freedom has been violated. Mr. Ossewaarde had held weekly Bible meetings at his home in the Russian city of Oryol, 300 kilometres south of Moscow, . . . Read More

US missionary in Russia fights for right to pray

February 6, 2017 Russia Don Ossewaarde, Moscow, Oryol, Russia, Terrorism, Yarovaya Law

An American missionary in Russia, who is appealing to the country’s Supreme Court against his conviction for holding religious services in his home and inviting others to attend them, says he is fighting to make sure everyone in Russia is free to read the Bible and pray. “If I don’t . . . Read More

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