Russia, under President Vladmir Putin, is increasingly using the Russian Orthodox Church as a tool to control religious life, limit dissent, and expel state influence, both inside and outside the country, the Christian Daily website reports today (Feb. 16, 2026).
The Kremlin and the Church are deeply intertwined. Putin presents the Russian Orthodox Church as the guardian of "traditional values" and Russian identity.
This partnership gives the Church privileged status, while minority Christian groups and other faiths face restrictions.
Groups facing pressure include: Evangelical Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims, Independent Orthodox communities not aligned with the Moscow Patriarchate.
These groups are often labeled "extremist" or "foreign agents."
No comments:
Post a Comment