Congressional Briefing Brings Attention to Religious Freedom Issues

The global community has continued to observe an alarming increase in religious freedom restrictions and violations in the countries of the former Soviet Union in 2013. As a result, many religious groups, including evangelical Christians, have experienced increased discrimination, suppression, and in some cases persecution including fines, arrest and imprisonment; forced closure and liquidation of churches; confiscation and destruction of Christian literature; and propaganda by the government-controlled media.

In response to this alarming trend, Russian Ministries, together with the office of Congressman Joe Pitts sponsored a Congressional Briefing on Religious Freedom Issues in the Former Soviet Union on Capitol Hill on February 5, 2014, on the eve of the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. Other partners included the Religious Liberty Partnership, the Institute for Global Engagement, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Stefanus Alliance International, the International Religious Freedom Roundtable, Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance, and Light to the People.

The purpose of the briefing was to create awareness among the global community about the state of religious freedom in the former Soviet Union, to examine increasing religious restrictions in Eurasia, and to foster constructive dialogue between Eurasian civil, religious and government leaders in order to develop solutions to this critical global issue.

Sergey Rakhuba, President of Russian Ministries, gave an overview of developments since the Soviet Union collapsed 23 years ago: “During the last two decades, changes in the political, religious, and cultural landscapes in the countries of the former Soviet Union/Eurasia have shined the spotlight on religious freedom again, but not for the right reasons. We have been forced once again to ask ourselves how we should react to the arrest and imprisonment of pastors, the liquidation of churches, the confiscation and destruction of Christian literature, and other clear violations of religious freedom.   That is why we have gathered here today—to ask ourselves why the global community should be concerned about this issue and to learn, discuss, analyze, and suggest solutions to this alarming trend.”

Christian leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan talked about the state of religious freedom in their countries and in the region. One of the goals of the briefing was to encourage dialogue between religious leaders, civil society, and the government.  Therefore it was significant that in addition to Rasim Khalilov, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Azerbaijan there was also a representative of the Azeri government in attendance as a panelist, Nijat Mammadli, head of the International Relations Department of the State Committee on Religious Associations of Azerbaijan.  

Dr. Gregory Komendant, president of the Ukrainian Bible Society, recalled the period immediately after the fall of the former Soviet Union: “Freedom came to us as an unexpected gift, and we didn’t know how to take full advantage of it. “When it came,” he continued, “we thought we would catch up with America, but unfortunately, we did not have enough strength for the long-haul. Soon came regulations and prohibitions.”

Dr. Michael Cherenkov, Vice President of the Association for Spiritual Renewal, believes that Russia dictates the climate for religious freedom in the region: “The former Soviet sphere remains strongly and almost solely dependent upon what happens in Russia. In the last year, Putin’s diplomacy helped Russia restore its influence on Ukraine, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, with whom Russia is seeking a more active form of economic and military partnership. In Belarus and Kazakhstan, who are already members of a customs union with Russia, Putin’s influence took the form of an increase in political and religious repression.”

Representative Trent Franks of Arizona, founder and co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, noted that three former Soviet republics joined Pew Research Center’s list of countries with “very high government restrictions on religion” in 2012 for the first time. These countries joined a list that already included Russia and Uzbekistan. The number of Eurasian countries on this list, and the fact that three of them are recent additions, is statistical confirmation of the alarming trend noted by global observers in the region.

Congressman Franks went on to discuss the case of Bakhitzhan Kashkumbaev, a retired pastor from Astana, Kazakhstan, who has been in prison since May 2013. “Pastor Kashkumbaev was doing nothing more than exercising his faith as pastor,” noted Congressman Franks, “but was imprisoned on charges that included harming health, and leading an organization that harms others. His penalty for these charges could include as much as 6-8 years in prison. Today’s round table is incredibly important to elevate cases like Pastor Kashkumbaev’s, and I hope we have some success on his behalf.”

Dr. Cherenkov believes that the main culprit behind the lack of religious freedom in former Soviet countries is not government restriction, but “the passivity of society and the lack of action on the part of religious organizations. The key to transforming society,” he continues, “is transforming the Church. What can transform the Church? Training new leaders; partnerships between churches; keeping the media and society informed; independent experts providing quality analysis of trends in the relationship between the Church, society, and the government; international support for progressive initiatives; and a movement of Christians expanding the horizons of missions in the professional sphere.”

Russian Ministries is already in the business of transforming the Church and society through programs like School Without Walls, which seeks to awaken Next Generation Christians in the former Soviet Union from their passivity and train and equip them to make a difference in their churches and communities. This Congressional Briefing was a part of the second step of this approach: raising awareness and mobilizing international support for the Church in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Our hope is that the partnerships and dialogue fostered by this briefing and similar initiatives will bring about real change in the lives of believers suffering for their faith in the former Soviet Union.