Tactics story
Legal challenge to fines for worship, Russia

Tactic: Seek justice and compensation

In Russia, law enforcement bodies have imposed administrative fines on religious communities who meet for worship in private homes, citing ‘misuse of the land plot’.

In 2019, lawyers specialised in freedom of religion or belief, successfully defended a religious community who objected to these fines. The Constitutional Court delivered a unanimous decision that religious organisations have the right to conduct worship services and perform religious rites in residential premises without any hindrance. This ruling could have the potential to clarify Russia’s legal framework on meetings for worship outside officially recognised religious buildings and sets a precedent of protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Source: Slavic Centre for Law and Justice, www.sclj.ru