A
list published by Forum18, an organisation that advocates for freedom of
conscience, shows that Russia prosecuted 71 individuals and organisations, four
of which were Seventh-day Adventists, for sharing their faith.
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| Global Mission pioneers at Zaoksky Adventist University outside Moscow, Russia, in 2001/ Photo: Adventist World |
The report that covers the year 2021 was published yesterday 12th April 2021,
documenting 71 known prosecutions of victims of Russia’s 2016 law which
punishes sharing of faith as "illegal missionary activity".
The four Adventists identified by Faith Reporters
Currently, a
case is ongoing against Nina Batradzovna Boronina who was arrested in late 2021
and charged with selling Christian literature.
According to the
Russian companies database, Nina registered a retail shop in May 2019 in Kabardino-Balkarian
Republic where she sold flowers, seeds and fertilisers and provided services
such as packaging, photography, designs and courier deliveries.
It is from this
shop that an inspection by the Russian authorities found the Spirit of Prophesy
books and charged her with selling Adventist literature.
Russia-four-Adventists-among-scores-prosecuted-faith-Forum18-Report
During the court
hearings, Nina argued that the books were personal property and that they were
not for sale.
The court on 5th October 2021 found her guilty of the charges, the appeal of which was heard on 24th January 2022 at Prokhladny District Court.
The punishment
is still unknown, according to Forum 18.
Zhanna
Albertovna Kuzina and Sergey Vladimirovich Rudnev were fined 5000 Roubles (over
$60) each in January 2021 by Uzlovaya District Magistrate's Court in Tula
Region.
The Seventh-day
Adventists were found conducting Bible studies on Sabbath at the church “without
documents confirming the right to hold this religious event”.
Both argued that
they did not need permission because they were sharing faith with fellow Seventh-day
Adventists, since the law forbids sharing faith with people from other
denominations.
The court did
not consider their argument, concluding that there was no evidence to show that
the people they were sharing the gospel with were Adventists.
D.M. Shiryayev
was charged with distributing Seventh-day Adventist literature at a Russian airport,
handing over one copy and laying out others in the airport lounge "for public
viewing" which is punished by laws.
In his defence,
he claimed that he was acting on his own, not on behalf of his religion, and said
that he was unaware of legal requirements for missionary activity in Russia.
He presented
documents from the publisher authorising him to conduct surveys of public
opinion and distribute the publisher's products as evidence that he was not doing
it on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The judge at Ust-Koksa
District Magistrate's Court, Altay Republic did not consider his argument and
fined Shiryayev with 6000 Roubles ($73) on 12th April 2021.
Forum 18 is
named after Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
works with Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
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