wfn.org | Russia's Human Rights Commissioner on Religion Laws

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

July 8, 2001
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Russia's Human Rights Commissioner Questions Religion 
Law

Moscow, Russia (ANN/APD)  Current Russian laws do not 
provide equal rights to all religious bodies, said Oleg 
Mironov, Russia's commissioner of human rights, during his 
recent visit to two Seventh-day Adventist institutions 
south of Moscow.

Speaking to 300 students and faculty at Zaoksky Theological 
Seminary near Tula, Mironov said that some aspects of 
Russia's 1997 law on freedom of conscience and religious 
organizations do not agree with the national constitution. 
He suggested that Russia set up educational programs to 
inform government leaders about human rights and religious 
freedom. 

Many international experts consider the 1997 law a step 
backward from a more inclusive 1990 version, which 
granted similar rights to all religious faiths. Currently, 
only officially registered organizations are allowed to 
operate schools, publish literature, and conduct public 
evangelism.

According to Valery Ivanov, communication director for 
the Adventist Church in the Euro-Asia region, Mironov is 
the highest-ranking government official ever to visit an 
Adventist institution in Russia. During his tour he 
praised the Adventist Church for taking an active role in 
social issues and complimented the positive atmosphere on 
the seminary campus.

Mironov also toured the Adventist Voice of Hope media 
center in Tula and recorded a 20-minute interview that 
will be aired on two major radio stations across the 
nation.

As human rights commissioner, Mironov has criticized the 
Russian government for using excessive force against 
rebels in Chechnya and for allowing secret security 
services to intimidate citizens. His office has 
investigated 6,000 citizen complaints since he took office 
three years ago. A noted lawyer, Mironov served as a deputy 
in Russia's Duma, or parliament, before assuming his 
current position. [Reporting Editor Rebecca Scoggins for 
ANN]