Tag: Russia

Moldova – striving to make a difference despite corruption and suspicion

November 14, 2016 Moldova Moldova, Russia, Soviet Union, Transnistria

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. To the east, cushioned between the Ukraine and Romania, and currently in the process of applying for European Union membership, it has this weekend decided its new President will be the pro-Russian candidate, who wants to reverse integration into the EU. (The winner, . . . Read More

Russia: Church reacts as ‘anti-missionary bill’ becomes law

July 15, 2016 Russia Exile, House churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, Missionaries, Moscow, Pentecostals, Russia, Seventh-day Adventists, Soviet Union, Vladimir Putin, Yarovaya Law

On 7 July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill referred to by one Christian organisation as an “anti-missionary bill”. The new law, known more commonly as the “Yarovaya” law (the name of one of its authors), which will come into effect on 20 July, was formally introduced . . . Read More

Central Asian Christians feel repercussions of governments’ focus on Islamist threat

July 6, 2016 Central Asia, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islam Karimov, Islamic extremism, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saparmurat Niyazov, Soviet Union, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

When the three suicide bombers who killed 44 people at Istanbul’s main airport on 28 June were identified as Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz nationals, it provided another reminder that the threat from the so-called Islamic State reaches far beyond Syria and Iraq. And nowhere is that threat being taken more . . . Read More

Russia approves ‘anti-missionary bill’

July 4, 2016 Russia Russia, Soviet Union, Vladimir Putin, Yarovaya Law

The upper chamber of the Russian Assembly has approved what is being referred to by one Christian organisation as an “anti-missionary bill”. ‘s Sergey Rakhuba says the the bill “prohibits missionary and evangelistic activity in residential areas of Russia and limits missionaries to acting only on behalf of registered religious . . . Read More

Roman, Russian patriarchs to meet in Cuba

February 5, 2016 Russia Moscow, Patriarch Kirill, Russia, Russian Orthodox Church

The first-ever meeting of the Roman pontiff and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is scheduled for 12 Feb. in Cuba, . that the subject of their conversation will be “persecution of Christians in the modern world”. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is the only patriarch of . . . Read More

Report: Christianity contracting in MidEast, Africa

October 16, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Belarus, Boko Haram, China, David Cameron, Egypt, Eritrea, Europe, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, London, Middle East, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pope Francis, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UK, Ukraine, Vietnam

Christianity is fast disappearing from entire regions, most notably a huge chunk of the Middle East, and could vanish from Iraq within five years, according to a new report by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. Released in the UK’s House of Lords on Tuesday, the report, “Persecuted and . . . Read More

Ukraine rebels accuse Christians of spying

May 14, 2015 Ukraine Catholics, Donetsk, Protestants, Russia, Russian Orthodox Church, Ukraine

Rebels in the Donetsk region of Ukraine have declared an autonomous region complete with an official religion: The Russian Orthodox Church. that commanders of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” have shelled churches and the buildings of other religious minorities, and have arrested Protestant and Catholic leaders on suspicion of spying . . . Read More

Ukraine Christians living in fear

March 18, 2015 Ukraine Catholics, Donetsk, Kiev, Protestants, Russia, Russian Orthodox Church, Ukraine

Christians in eastern Ukraine fear growing persecution from pro-Russian separatists who have declared religious groups not affiliated to the Russian Orthodox Church to be their potential enemy. Since the Russian-backed rebels established the Donetsk People’s Republic in April 2014, their self-declared government made Russia’s Orthodox Church their official faith. The . . . Read More

Russian dissident and priest Yakunin dies at 80

January 8, 2015 Russia Exile, Moscow, Russia, Russian Orthodox Church, Soviet Union

We’re getting to this news a bit late owing to the holidays, but wanted to share that Rev. Gleb Yakunin, a priest who was famous for protesting against corruption within the Russian Orthodox Church and Soviet Union died in Moscow on 25 December. According to the New York Times, Yakunin, . . . Read More

North Korea’s human rights in UN spotlight

December 23, 2014 North Korea China, North Korea, Russia, UN

Despite initial opposition from China and Russia, the UN Security Council is discussing North Korea’s human rights record. According to the BBC, this comes ‘days after the UN General Assembly voted in favour of referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court to face charges of crimes against humanity.’ Earlier . . . Read More

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