Support The Moscow Times!

Deputies Move to Criminalize Blasphemy

A group of State Duma deputies is developing a bill that would criminalize blasphemy, sacrilege and anything else that offends religious believers.

Under the proposal, currently being drafted by members of the Social and Religious Organizations Committee, people convicted of insulting the faithful would face a steep fine, forced labor and even prison, Deputy Yaroslav Nilov told RIA-Novosti on Thursday.

The current 1,000 ruble ($30) fine is "laughable," the Liberal Democratic Party deputy said. "If someone runs a red light, that's 1,000 rubles. If someone offends a million believers, that's also 1,000 rubles."

Last month, three members of the Pussy Riot punk band were sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism motived by religious hatred as a consequence of a brief performance in a Moscow cathedral that outraged Orthodox Church officials.

Critics accused the court of doing the bidding of the church and the Kremlin. Russia is a secular state under its Constitution, which bars the government from establishing an official or obligatory religion.

Defamation was criminalized earlier this summer in a move seen as targeting Kremlin opponents.

Related articles:

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more