Protestants in the Russian province of Belgorod have expressed fear that a new law aimed at curbing public “missionary activity” will be enforced only against the region’s Protestant minorities. Representatives of local congregations expressed their opposition to the new law at a May 15 meeting held by the regional department of justice. The law has already been invoked to prevent a public gathering and concert planned by a local Pentecostal church, reports Keston News Service.

Belgorod’s duma, or parliament, passed the “anti-missionary law” in January.  Under the statute, missionary activity is defined as anything that “aims directly or indirectly to disseminate doctrines and religious practices among those of another faith or nonbelievers.”  The law restricts these activities to “cult buildings” and private homes.  Public religious events can be held only with the permission of local authorities and must conform to “regulations for holding public gatherings, meetings, marches, and demonstrations.”

The Belgorod law applies equally to both Russians and non-Russians. It requires visiting church representatives who intend to carry out missionary activity to show an invitation to the region, proof of church affiliation, and an itinerary of their stay. Missionary activity among children can only take place with the written permission of their parents.

Viktor Krushenitsky, public affairs and religious liberty director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Euro-Asia region, points out that the Belgorod law is in conflict with Russia’s federal law governing religious organizations. “A local region may provide more freedom but not less freedom than the federal law,” he explains. “If one believer or congregation in that region would appeal to the constitutional court, the court would recognize that the Belgorod law is not legal.”