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.