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Herald Malaysia
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Religious freedom in Russia continues to decline: experts
Even theological disagreement within the Russian Orthodox Church is silenced, says a Russian-born scholar Jun 05, 2025 President Vladimir Putin with Kremlin-controlled religious leaders during the official celebrations of the National Unity Day on Nov. 4, 2023. (Photo: Wikipedia) By Gina Christian, OSV News As Pope Leo XIV highlights the need for interreligious dialogue and diplomacy, religious liberty in Russia continues to decline, with the US International Religious Freedom Commission citing that nation's intensified use of blasphemy laws to silence freedom of expression. At the same time, a Russian-born scholar told OSV News that even theological disagreement within the Russian Orthodox Church is silenced. In May, Pope Leo stressed to Vatican-accredited diplomats that interreligious dialogue can foster peace, with such exchange first requiring "full respect for religious freedom in every country, since religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person." But a month earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued an update on Russia's "intensified" enforcement of its laws against what the commission called "perceived offensive expression toward religion, religious texts, and religious leaders." The commission -- which defines blasphemy as "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or sacred things" -- noted that under international human rights law, "freedom of religion or belief includes the right to express a full range of thoughts and beliefs, including those that others might find blasphemous." The law protects the rights of individuals, not "religious feelings, figures or symbols from behavior or speech considered blasphemous," said USCIRF. As a result, said the commission, "while certain offensive statements and actions may warrant public rebuke, prosecuting perceived offensive expression toward religion violates the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to freedom of opinion and expression under international human rights law." In Russia, the two laws commonly invoked to prosecute blasphemy -- one criminal, one civil -- have been used to enforce compliance with the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has leveraged the nation's predominantly Russian Orthodox religious identity and what it calls "traditional values" to rally the nation against the West. "For years, President Putin has championed his interpretation of 'traditional values' to oppose the West on human rights and justify his authoritarian practices, which include systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom," said USCIRF. USCIRF said that the use of the blasphemy laws has accelerated with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022 and continues attacks initiated in 2014. Dmitry Dubrovskiy, a researcher from the Institute for International Studies at Charles University in Prague, told OSV News that Russia's blasphemy laws also work in an indirect, but no less effective, way. "It's not so important how many people are being fined or prosecuted -- what is much more important is how many people are prevented from doing something because they're afraid of being prosecuted," explained Dubrovskiy, a former associate professor at Moscow's Higher School of Economics until March 2022, when he was declared a "foreign agent" in Russia and left the country. Dubrovskiy said the prosecution of those deemed to violate Russia's blasphemy laws sends "a message" that certain groups are "second-rate humans." At the same time, he said, "the message about the peculiar character of the Russian Orthodox Church in general" is that "it's totally untouchable" as "the highest level of authority, and not for discussion," although the church has only traditionally, rather than formally, been declared Russia's state church. In its 2025 World Watch List, the nonprofit Open Doors International -- which aids persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries -- said that amid a climate of "dictatorial paranoia" that fuels Russia's persecution of some religious groups, "the Russian Orthodox churches experience the least problems from the government" among Christian organizations. "The government continues to favor the Russian Orthodox Church at the expense of other Christian groups," while "Jehovah Witnesses have been banned since 2017," said the report. "After the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 state surveillance has increased, including the monitoring of non-ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) Christians." Open Doors also said in its report that "state agents at various levels carry out surveillance and impose restrictions," with Russia's legislation "being adapted and bringing in new restrictions constantly. All over Russia, local communities oppose openly evangelistic activities carried out by Protestant Christians." In October, the Russian government also put forth a draft law banning religious services in residential buildings. Dubrovskiy pointed to his research on the "expert opinions" used in classifying religious groups in Russia as "extremist" -- a practice that dates from Soviet times. He has found that such experts are increasingly selected not for their knowledge of religion, but of extremism, with little understanding of faith communities' practices and an inclination to label groups harshly. Priests of the Russian Orthodox Church -- which has openly supported that nation's war on Ukraine, with Patriarch Kirill declaring soldiers killed in action as absolved from sin -- have been expelled and imprisoned for expressing their dissent over the invasion, even on religious grounds. Among those who have been incarcerated is Hieromonk Ioann Kurmoyarov, whose YouTube videos criticizing the Russian government's aggression in Ukraine resulted in a three-year prison sentence, imposed in 2023, for sharing "fake news" about the Russian military. Speaking out against the Russian Orthodox Church itself is a danger, said Dubrovskiy. "All the Russian (Orthodox) priests who have ever criticized the church are being excommunicated or expelled," he said, adding that while theological debate by nature entails a level of disagreement, "there is no such thing as discussion" within the Russian Orthodox Church, which strives to "discipline the people to believe and to follow the instructions of the patriarch." Religious persecution is also experienced among Russia's Muslims, who make up close to 11% of the population, according to Open Doors. Clashes between Islamic militant groups and the government in certain areas have caused many ethnic Russians, largely Christian, to flee. In the same Muslim-majority regions, Christians with Muslim backgrounds face persecution from family, friends and the local community. OSV News is awaiting a response to its request for comment from the apostolic nuncio to Russia, Archbishop Giovanni d'Aniello, on the status of religious freedom in Russia In Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, officials have cracked down harshly on religious groups, destroying houses of worship and seizing church buildings while imprisoning, torturing and killing clergy. In the partially-occupied region of Zaporizhzhia, Russian officials banned the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and Caritas -- the international humanitarian aid network of the universal Catholic Church. Two UGCC priests, Father Ivan Levitsky and Father Bohdan Geleta, were abducted from their former Zaporizhzhia region parishes and released through Vatican mediation in June 2024, after 18 months of captivity and torture. Despite the Russian government's zealous crackdown on non-Russian Orthodox faith communities, and the nation's majority-Orthodox populace, Russian society as a whole is not especially religious, said Dubrovskiy. Instead, "a substantial amount of Russians definitely consider their Orthodoxy as a cultural identity," he said, noting that just "approximately 3-7% of the Russian population regularly visit a church."--
Metro
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Mysterious Soviet 'doomsday radio station' broadcasts cryptic messages again
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Russia's mysterious 'doomsday radio station' woke up and began to broadcast cryptic messages during Vladimir Putin's telephone call with Donald Trump. It's the second time this year that the Soviet UVB-76 radio station has creaked into action amid calls between the pair. It first began to broadcast the apparent code 'NZhTI 89905 BLEFOPUF 4097 5573' ahead of the White House call, before following up a few hours later with 'NZhTI 01263 BOLTANKA 4430 9529'. The station – known as Buzzer, Dead Hand Radio or Judgement Day Radio – has existed since the Cold War, but its purpose remains classified. Usually, it operates around the clock, making a buzzing sound, but it sent out other cryptic messages in February and April this year. The station is assumed to play a military role, possibly linked to Moscow's nuclear arsenal. After the talks, Trump said Russia and Ukraine would 'immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire'. Putin responded that it was necessary to show a 'maximum desire for peace and to find compromises that would suit all sides'. In a statement made via Kremlin-controlled media following the call, he said he thanked Trump for 'US support in resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine'. But shortly after the call, Russia attacked again, striking a civilian minibus in Ukraine's Kherson region, wounding a 65-year-old woman. Footage also emerged of Russia deploying a North Korean M-1978 Koksan self-propelled giant gun in the war zone after the call. There appeared to be concern in European capitals overnight that Trump had failed to publicly threaten Putin with harsh sanctions for failing to swiftly agree a ceasefire as a prelude to peace talks. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Earlier, the aim had been a 30-day ceasefire, but Trump did not impose a deadline. More Trending Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin was set to 'drag out the war'. 'If the Russians are not ready to stop the killings, there must be stronger sanctions for that,' he said. 'Pressure on Russia will encourage it to make real peace – this is obvious to everyone in the world. I also reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready for direct negotiations with Russia in any format that will yield results. Turkey, the Vatican, Switzerland – we are considering all possible venues. 'Russia must end the war that it started, and it can do so any day. Ukraine is always ready for peace.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Trump says Ukraine ceasefire talks to start 'immediately' after Putin call MORE: Putin prepares for Trump phone call by launching largest drone strike yet on Ukraine MORE: Food that could feed 3,500,000 for a month rots after Trump's aid cuts
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Russia unleashes ‘war's biggest drone attack' as Putin defies Trump's calls to ‘stop bloodbath' & vows to keep fighting
KREMLIN BLITZ Russia unleashes 'war's biggest drone attack' as Putin defies Trump's calls to 'stop bloodbath' & vows to keep fighting RUSSIA has unleashed the "war's biggest drone attack" as mad Vladimir Putin defies Donald Trump's call to stop the "bloodbath" and vows to continue fighting. A harrowing 273 exploding drones were fired across the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions overnight. 4 Resident Vadym Tsybenko, 22-year-old, walks next to his house heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike Credit: Reuters 4 Members of a mobile air defence volunteer unit fire a machine gun and an assault rifle to shoot down an unmanned aerial vehicle during massive air strike Credit: Reuters 4 Vladimir Putin bluntly tells Donald Trump on Russian state TV to stay out of his war Credit: East2West 4 Trump says the subject of his call with Putin will be 'stopping the bloodbath' Credit: Getty Around 88 managed to be intercepted and 128 "lost" after they were electronically jammed, Ukraine's air force revealed. The gargantuan drone attack has exceeded the previous record of 267 drones launched the day before the war's third anniversary. In Kyiv, a 28-year-old woman was heinously killed and three people - including a young child - were injured, Ukraine's regional governor said. Firefighters also desperately fought to control a blaze at a business destroyed by the devastating attacks just outside the city. Meanwhile Putin bluntly told Trump to stop trying to dictate terms to him for a ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed in the conflict. The Russian tyrant made clear he wants to finish his military operation which aims to eviscerate Ukraine. The Russian ruler told Kremlin-controlled state TV: 'You know, the Americans — the American people and the American leadership, including the president — have their own national interests. 'We respect that. We proceed from the assumption that we will be treated the same way.' Soon the Russian dictator went further, stressing he plans to finish what he started three years ago in seeking to invade and control Ukraine. The tyrant added: 'We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to its logical conclusion with the result that Russia needs." At least nine killed in Russian strike on Ukrainian bus hours after peace talks and threat 'war could last 21 years' This involved 'elimination of the causes that [triggered] this crisis' and 'the creation of conditions for long-term sustainable peace'. Putin's words were recorded in late March but significantly broadcast today after Trump made clear he wants the Russian leader to concede a ceasefire in their telephone talk on Monday. Trump had announced plans to speak with Putin to put an end to what he calls a 'bloodbath' and "a very violent war" that 'should have never happened'. The US president said he'll follow up with a call to Zelensky and later consult with NATO leaders. 'I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday at 10:00am,' said Trump. 'The subjects of the call will be - stopping the 'bloodbath' that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade.' Follow our live coverage below...
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Russia says 'British blood must be spilled' in horror WW3 warning
The UK has been accused of supplying explosives used in a string of high-profile assassinations inside Russia by Vladimir Putin's propaganda machine. In a chilling broadcast, Russian state television issued a threat that 'British blood must be spilled' in retaliation, reports the Express. The claims were aired on Kremlin-controlled media, where government-aligned commentators directly blamed British intelligence services for orchestrating the killings of senior Russian military figures, including two generals. Despite offering no concrete evidence, the broadcast delivered an ominous warning of revenge against the UK. One of the featured incidents was the recent killing of Major-General Yaroslav Moskalik, 59, who was reportedly killed by a car bomb as he passed a Volkswagen Golf near his home in Moscow. Moskalik, a key military planner known to have briefed Putin on operations in Crimea, was portrayed as a significant target. The programme also referenced the death of Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, 54 — a specialist in chemical and biological warfare who was killed in a bombing in December — as well as Yevgeny Rytikov, 34, an expert in electronic warfare who was assassinated earlier this month in Bryansk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to acknowledge Ukraine's involvement in these operations. Speaking earlier in the week, he confirmed that his intelligence chief kept him updated on 'the liquidation of individuals from the top command of the Russian armed forces,' adding tersely: 'Thank you for your work.' On the prominent state channel Russia-1, pro-Kremlin host Vladimir Solovyov singled out Britain as the source of the explosives used in these attacks. During a discussion with munitions expert and former senator Andrei Klintsevich, Solovyov questioned the origin of the materials. Klintsevich claimed — again without presenting evidence — that the explosives were "entirely British, imported by the ton." He suggested a covert network was responsible for transporting and planting the devices across Russia. Solovyov followed up with speculation about explosives being smuggled out of European warehouses and then issued a stark threat: "When we say British intelligence is behind every terrorist attack, we mean British blood must be spilled in return. They must understand they will pay personally. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.' Klintsevich asserted that explosive batches could be traced through their unique markings, claiming Russian intelligence likely already knows their precise origin — including the factory and year of manufacture. Solovyov closed the segment with a threat directed at British intelligence, stating: 'If those factories are blown up — along with the headquarters of the agencies behind these attacks — they should not be surprised.' The UK government has yet to respond formally. However, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced sanctions in October 2024 against three Russian entities and three senior officials involved in disinformation efforts aimed at undermining Ukraine's democracy. At the time, Lammy condemned the Kremlin's actions, saying: 'Putin is so desperate to weaken European backing for Ukraine that he's turning to crude, ineffective disinformation campaigns.' He reaffirmed the UK's commitment to countering such tactics. Previously, at the UN General Assembly Committee on Information in May 2022, UK Ambassador James Roscoe had also denounced Russia's hostile propaganda efforts, warning that they threatened to erode global trust in both the media and international institutions.
Miami Herald
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia TV Cuts Short Donald Trump's Critique of Putin
Russian state media has deliberately omitted U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of its leader from its coverage, according to an independent Russian investigative outlet. According to the news site Agentstvo, media controlled by the Kremlin has "censored" Trump by not reporting that the U.S. president has been criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin since last week. Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for comment by email. Relations between Washington and Moscow have thawed since Trump was sworn into office in January, but tensions are mounting as the U.S. leader attempts to broker peace talks to end the war. After Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, last week, Trump publicly urged Putin to stop his attacks and expressed his disappointment in the leader for continuing military actions. Last week, Trump urged Putin to "STOP!" after Russian forces launched an attack on Kyiv, killing at least 12 people. "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!" The Trump administration also warned it would abandon diplomatic efforts to end the war if Russia and Ukraine did not soon accept a Washington-brokered peace proposal. However, Russian state television channels and Kremlin-controlled media-including Russia-1 and news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti-have omitted Trump's criticism of Putin from their coverage, according to Agentstvo. They left out Trump's calls for Putin to stop the attacks on Ukraine. On Sunday, Vesti Nedeli, a program on Russia-1, selectively quoted Trump's criticism of Putin on social media, citing only the portions that excluded any criticism of the Russian president. Instead, the segment highlighted Trump's earlier remarks criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump criticized Zelensky on April 23 after Kyiv's leader said he wouldn't accept Russia's demands to legally recognize the annexation of Crimea. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula in 2014, but it remains internationally recognized as Ukrainian. "Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea," Zelensky told reporters on April 22, adding, "It is against our constitution." Trump and Zelensky met one-on-one at the Vatican on Saturday ahead of Pope Francis' funeral. After that meeting, reporters asked Trump whether Zelensky might be willing to give up Crimea. The U.S. president responded: "Oh, I think so, yeah. Look, Crimea was 12 years ago." Meanwhile, European and Ukrainian officials fear Trump is close to abandoning his efforts to put an end to the war, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people briefed on the discussions. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters in India on April 23: "We have engaged in an extraordinary amount of diplomacy and on-the-ground work. We really tried to understand things from the perspectives of both Ukrainians and Russians. I think that we put together a very fair proposal. "It's time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process. The current lines, somewhere close to them is where you're ultimately, I think, going to draw the new lines in the conflict." Vance told Charlie Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA, on his podcast on Monday: "If this doesn't stop, the Ukrainians aren't winning the war. I think there's this weird idea among the mainstream media that if this thing goes on for just another few years, the Russians will collapse, the Ukrainians will take their territory back, and everything will go back to the way that it was before the war, that is not the reality that we live in." Plans are in motion for a meeting between Trump and Putin, with Trump indicating they could meet "shortly" following his visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in May. Related Articles NATO Fighter Jets Scrambled After Long-Range Russian StrikesPutin's Fear of Attacks on Victory Day Behind Abrupt Ceasefire: KyivMichael Gloss Obituary Removed After He Died Fighting for Russia'Frustrated' Trump Wants Putin to Go Further 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
