The Russian Orthodox Church did not support the initiative to coordinate the registration of religious organizations

The Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church opposed amendments to the law on freedom of conscience and religious associations.

Deputies of the People's Assembly of Dagestan submitted a bill to the State Duma in December 2024, according to which they propose to transfer powers in the registration of religious organizations.

The authors of the bill believe that this will minimize the state registration of religious organizations whose goals and activities contradict the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The decision on the registration of local religious communities is currently being taken by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and its regional offices.

"The creation of authorized executive authorities in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which will coordinate decisions on the establishment of religious organizations, contradicts the principle of separation of religious associations from the state. It violates the constitutional principle of equality of religious associations," said Abbess Xenia (Chernega), head of the Legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In early March, the Government of the Russian Federation did not support the bill, citing the fact that the amendments do not comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, according to which civil legislation is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. In addition, the initiative does not comply with Article 71 of the Constitution.

"The projected changes do not comply with the provisions of its paragraph, according to which civil legislation is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation," the conclusion says.

The heads of 23 regions supported the draft law of the People's Council of Dagestan without comment. At the same time, more than 20 local governments have agreed to the initiative to coordinate the registration of religious organizations at the regional level.

The amendments were opposed by six governors (Murmansk, Leningrad, Pskov, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir regions, Kamchatka Territory), as well as two regional governments — the LPR and the Ryazan region.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

The block in the post: will the regions be able to refuse the creation of religious organizations