This file photo of January 1, 2004 shows then Russian President Vladimir Putin attending the Christmas service in the Znamenskaya Temple during his visit to the ancient Russian town of Suzdal.
Photo: Ilya Pitalev
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Russia Condemned Religious Freedom Report of the U.S. Department of State
The annual International Religious Freedom Report of the U.S. Department of State is biased and contains a standard set of claims to Russia, the RF Foreign Ministry commented.
“The regular annual International Religious Freedom Report of the U.S. Department of State that has been recently released at its Internet site traditionally swarms with the tendentious approach to Russia,” the RF Foreign Ministry commented Monday.
“In general, while reading the current report of the U.S. Department of State, a certain standard set of claims to Russia, wandering from one report to another, will catch your eye,” Russia’s diplomats said.
In particular, Russia’s Federal Act on Freedom of Worship, Religious Associations allegedly obstructs non-traditional confessions. The report again exaggerates privileged standing of Russian Orthodox Church. “The given reason is that the Orthodox Christmas is the day-off in Russia (as if, in the multi-confessional United States, they don’t officially celebrate the Catholic Christmas,” the document says.
www.kommersant.com
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