Roundtable - 04.13.2000 

Roundtable on Religious Freedom in Russia
U.S. Department of State

NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin and Lesley Weiss, NCSJ Director of Community Services and Cultural Affairs, attended the April 13 Roundtable on Religious Freedom co-chaired by Stephen Sestanovich, Ambassador at Large and Special Adviser to the Secretary on the NIS; Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR); Mark Medish, Senior Director, National Security Council; and Ambassador Robert Seiple, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the protection of religious liberty in Russia, and in particular, implementation of the 1997 Russian law on religion. Participants included representatives of major faith groups in Russia and others concerned with religious freedom. 

Ambassador Stestanovich indicated that there are mixed signals coming out of Russia concerning religious freedom. He noted improvements such as the registration of the Catholic Church in Kazan, President Putin’s statements against anti-Semitism, and Putin’s promotion of a program dealing with tolerance.

Senator Smith commended the participating organizations for their commitment to religious freedom and their continued diligence on this issue.

Mark Medish stated that the administration is deeply committed to constructive engagement with Russia. Russia’s commitment to human rights has an impact on the United State’s willingness to support Russia. Yeltzin was committed to human rights but was unable to institutionalize this commitment. Putin seems to be well organized, but his value system is unknown. He added that the rule of law cannot be real if it has vacuums; it cannot be suspended. He expressed concern about the connection being made between Muslim minorities and terrorism.

Ambassador Seiple said that although there is a mixed picture on religious freedom, he chooses to be optimistic. A recent report released by a conference in Oxford showed an increase in belief in God by young people in Russia. (45% in 1991, 60% in 1998). He is encouraged by Putin’s representation of himself as a person of faith and by Putin’s assistance to the Jewish community of St Petersburg when he lived there. He also said that after raising the issue of registering religious groups with the Governor of Samara, the problem was quickly resolved. Ambassador Seiple is concerned about the re-registration issue in Voronezh, the status of minority faiths such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Pentecostals and the lumping together of Moslems with terrorists.

Lauren B. Homer of Pranschke & Holerle, L.C., reported on a few legal victories, particularly concerning the federal Ministry of Justice’s decision to re-register Jehovah’s Witnesses’ central organization last April. She praised the influence of the American Embassy in Moscow but also indicated that there are not enough human rights and religious freedom lawyers in Russia. She said there are indications that the Russian Orthodox Church does not want to be "swallowed up" by the State. The vast majority of religious organizations will not make the registration deadline.

Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Orthodox Church in America, said he was encouraged by recent news reports from Moscow that gave equal coverage to the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Christmas. He was struck by the positive image portrayed of peaceful Moslems. He feels that Moslem-Orthodox relations have generally been positive and the conflict grossly exaggerated. The extremists in both groups however, have not made a positive contribution to pluralism. He spoke about his association with both Chechens and Christian Orthodox who are equally alarmed about the lawlessness and kidnapping in the Caucuses. Chechens are bitter toward the Russian leadership, but are even more bitter toward the Chechen leadership. He attended a conference held by the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow and was encouraged by the dialogue and the Church’s attempt to marginalize extremism. He is concerned by the Church’s strong support of Putin and worries about the possibility of too much control by the government in the future.

Micah Naftalin, Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, said that the Orthodox Church is more concerned with other Christian denominations because of competition and less concerned with Moslems and Jews. He feels that Putin and the Church have some kind of affinity and that the bureaucracy needs to get a signal from the Patriarchy about who is behind the religion law.

Mark Levin, NCSJ, described a new inter-religious initiative organized by Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, Chief Rabbi of Moscow. It is a religious leadership coalition representing the major faith groups in Russia, which will work together to provide humanitarian assistance. The coalition hopes to meet with administration and Congressional leaders when they visit Washington in June. The coalition will serve as a model for others outside of Moscow.

Susan Taylor, Church of Scientology International, reported that the harassment of churches of Scientology has stopped, but the efforts to liquidate these churches continue in Moscow. The fifty churches in the regions registered as "social" organizations, were not allowed to re-register under the 1987 law as religious organizations.

Gregory D. Olds, Jehovah's Witnesses, reported that Moscow municipal trials were conducted concerning the banning of the church. He requested that U.S. officials ask that the banning be stopped or allow them to go back to court. He indicated there are 10,000 Jehovah Witness followers in St. Petersburg who have no legal basis.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, American Friends of Lubavitch, said the Lubavitch representative in Moscow has received permission to hold community Passover Seders. The Jewish community was also asked to hold celebrations in conjunction with the May 9^th World War II victory. He stated that the Russian Lubavitch delegation was impressed and overwhelmed by the deep interest shown by American officials during their recent visit to Washington.

Daniel Robert Pollard, Baptist Mid-Missions reported on the denial of the Baptist Church to re-register under the religion law. He is on a black list and cannot travel to Russia.