Letter of Protest: Russia continues to pursue religious minorities

In June the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe has criticized the law for its vague and arbitrary definitions. Thats  violate international standards repeatedly. Also other religious minorities such as Jehovah's Witnesses are undergoing similar repression and persecutions.

Particularly controversial is the fact, that Russia complies with the persecution of Falun Gong the desire of China. Since 1999 the neighbouring country prosecutes nearly 100 million adherents. Thousands have already been killed.

In a number of bilateral agreements between the two states Moscow is obliged to criminalizes and combat Falun Gong.  Not only international organizations such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch have repeatedly criticized the  human rights situation. Also russian activists such as Lujdmila Alexejeva, Sergei Kovalev and Oleg Orlov are fighting for the rights of the religious minority.

I have expressed my concerns regarding the issue in a letter of protest addressed to the Russian President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme Court of Russia to raise the awareness about the fate and the violation of the law.