Category: Church & religion

18, 17 and 13 years for discussing faith and Russian persecution, 12 January 2021

Crimean Tatars targeted in Military Court ruling. A Russian court has sentenced three Crimean Tatars, including a father and son,  to horrific terms of imprisonment without any crime, on the basis of discussions about their Muslim faith and political subjects, including Russia’s persecution of  Muslims.  This was claimed to have been “anti-Russian” and "anti-constitutional".   … Continue reading 18, 17 and 13 years for discussing faith and Russian persecution, 12 January 2021

“Pentecostals” or Christians of the Evangelical Faith (41.5)

KALUGA REGION. After I.P. Fedotov, the leader of the local congregation, was arrested and charged (CCE 36.8) persecution has not ceased of the Pentecostals who split away from the registered Baptist congregation. In the autumn of 1975 administrative commissions in Obninsk and Maloyaroslavets fined 14 believers 50 roubles each for holding an unregistered assembly in … Continue reading “Pentecostals” or Christians of the Evangelical Faith (41.5)

A New Way of Fighting Religion, June-July 1976 (41.4)

[Alexander ARGENTOV] On 14 July 1976 Alexander Alexandrovich ARGENTOV (b. 1951) was summoned to the military registration and enlistment office of Moscow's Tushino district. He was sent for immediate examination to a psychiatric clinic. Argentov had never been registered as a psychiatric patient before. On his arrival at the clinic Dr Alexander Ivanovich Mazikov told … Continue reading A New Way of Fighting Religion, June-July 1976 (41.4)

Religion in the USSR: A Lecture by Furov, May 1976 (41.2)

At the end of May 1976, staff working on the Large Soviet Encyclopaedia heard a lecture on the situation of religion in the Soviet Union by a visiting speaker, [Vasily] Furov, deputy-chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs (USSR Council of Ministers). In general, religious life in the USSR was in decline, the speaker said, … Continue reading Religion in the USSR: A Lecture by Furov, May 1976 (41.2)

The Trial of Alexander Ogorodnikov, 3-7 September 1980 (58.6)

<<No 58 : November 1980>> From 3 to 7 September 1980 the Kalinin Regional Court heard the case of Alexander Ioilevich OGORODNIKOV (b. 1950), who was charged under article 70 of the RSFSR Criminal Code. Ogorodnikov was arrested on 20 November 1978 (CCE 51) and sentenced to one year in ordinary-regime camps for ‘parasitism’ (CCE … Continue reading The Trial of Alexander Ogorodnikov, 3-7 September 1980 (58.6)

The Right to Leave, August 1980 (57.18)

..., Germans, Pentecostalists, Those who have left (Moscow, Leningrad, Voronezh; Yarym-Agayev; Women and Russia). GERMANS For two years Alexander Bous, a resident of Chelyabinsk, has been trying to emigrate with his father, mother and brother. On 1 and 2 April an article entitled “Spiritual emigres” was published in the newspaper Chelyabinsk Worker. The main attack … Continue reading The Right to Leave, August 1980 (57.18)

Persecution of Believers-1, March 1978 (CCE 48.16)

[1] Catholics in Moldavia; [2] Adventists. CATHOLICS IN MOLDAVIA There are 15,000 Catholics in Moldavia. They are Germans, Poles and Ukrainians. Communities of Catholics exist in Beltsy, Bendery, Tiraspol, Rashkovo, Grigorovka, Andriyashevka and other towns and villages. In the only Catholic chapel open in Moldavia the priest, Vladislav Zavalnyuk, is forbidden to give sermons in … Continue reading Persecution of Believers-1, March 1978 (CCE 48.16)

Political Prisoners, 1 February 1987 (KGB report)

KGB report to Gorbachev (Bukovsky Archives online). The numbers then serving a sentence under Articles 70,  190-1 and 142 of the RSFSR Criminal Code. One third held in psychiatric institutions; encouraging applications for a pardon from such prisoners; terms of release terms eased [Russian 1 Feb 87, 183-Ch] (9 pp)  Excerpts. ================================== [page one of … Continue reading Political Prisoners, 1 February 1987 (KGB report)