Imam suspected of sending believers' donations to terroristsThe investigative agencies of Kabardino-Balkaria, a republic in the North Caucasus, Russia, have opened a criminal case against an imam of a rural area who allegedly financed terrorism with believers' donations, a regional investigative authority said.12:12 21.03.2013
Russian Orthodox Church, Vatican to stand up for family valuesRepresentatives of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church met in Rome to discuss cooperation in promoting family values, social services and care for the poor, the Moscow Patriarchate said on Wednesday.19:29 20.03.2013
Man who defaced icons in Moscow released, but under restraintThe magistrate court of Moscow's Khamovnichesky District has put Yury Piotrovsky under restraint for throwing ink over two icons at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in September 2012.10:14 20.03.2013
Schneerson book collection to be handed over to Russian HasidsBooks from the so-called Yitzchok Schneerson collection will be handed over to Russian Hasids amid requests by Hasids in the United States to transfer the books into their possession instead.16:46 15.03.2013
ECHR clears Russia of most violations alleged by terrorism convictsThe European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) held Thursday that Russia did not violate the rights of members of an extremist Muslim organization to freedom or religion, expression, or peaceful assembly by convicting them of membership in a terrorist organization.17:29 14.03.2013
Man goes on trial for defacing icons in Christ the Savior CathedralThe case of a man who threw ink over two icons in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow has been forwarded to the courts, the Prosecutor General's Office said on Tuesday.12:54 05.03.2013
Religious sect of forced hermits banned for extremism in TatarstanA Tatarstan court has recognized a local Muslim religious community, whose members live in isolation, as extremist and banned its activity.18:32 25.02.2013
Siberian Pussy Riot supporter appeals fine for selling Pussy Riot T-shirtsNovosibirsk artist Artyom Loskutov has filed an appeal against the magistrate court's verdict to fine him 1,000 rubles ($33.20) for causing religious offence by selling T-shirts in support of punk rock band Pussy Riot.14:01 12.02.2013
Zealous Siberian Pussy Riot activist acquittedA magistrate's court in Novosibirsk has acquitted a local artist accused of insulting the feelings of believers. The case was opened against the artist for selling "Support Pussy Riot" T-shirts, and closed after the court failed to find malicious intent in his actions.17:09 11.02.2013
Russian Muslims challenge law banning hijabs in schoolA court in the Stavropol Territory in southern Russia is looking into a lawsuit against the new school uniform requirements which include a ban on wearing head dresses, such as Muslim hijabs, in class.14:05 11.02.2013
Imam tried for extremism in SiberiaThe first hearing in the extremism case against Imam Ilkhom Merazhov, head of the Asian department of the Russian Board of Muslims. The imam has pleaded not guilty.13:30 08.02.2013
Yoga cult leader convicted of forced orgies, sentenced to 11 yearsOn Wednesday the Novosibirsk Region Court sentenced Konstantin Rudnev, the founder of religious sect Ashram Shambala, to 11 years in prison and ordered him to pay 3.7 million rubles ($123,500) in favor of the aggrieved.11:15 07.02.2013
Siberian artist fined over Support Pussy Riot T-shirtsThe Novosibirsk Central District Magistrate's Court fined artist Artyom Loskutov 1,000 rubles ($33.30) on Friday under one of two cases filed against him for offending religious feelings.14:49 01.02.2013
Leader of Russian apocalyptic survivalist group to remain in psych wardThe court has extended the stay in a psychiatric hospital of the former leader of the so-called "Penza recluses". Thirty-five of Pyotr Kuznetsov's followers hid underground from October-November 2007 in the Penza Regions Bekovo district to survive what they believed would be the end of the world.18:36 28.01.2013
Yoga-cult leader accused of forced orgies faces sentencing in FebruaryThe Novosibirsk District Court will announce the sentence of the suspected leader of the Ashram Shambala esoteric sect on February 4. According to the prosecutors, the 44-year-old Konstantin Rudnev declared himself a messiah, or the "stranger from Sirius," who was sent to Earth to save devotees.17:12 28.01.2013
Government to revise law on protecting believers' rightsThe Russian government has sent back the draft law on increasing liability for causing religious offence for revision.10:27 28.01.2013
Prosecutors seek 14 years for yoga cult leader accused of forced orgiesProsecutors are seeking a 14-year sentence against the leader of a yogic cult on charges of rape and sexual assault as well as drug trafficking.13:54 25.01.2013
Russia faces emerging instability of law - Presidential Human Rights Council chiefThe tendency in Russia to "immediately" amend laws as the authorities respond to current events with new bills, is evidence of a legal instability which poses a threat to the public's legal protection, Mikhail Fedotov, head of the Presidential Human Rights Council, said at a news conference on the issue of protecting citizens' religious feelings.18:35 24.01.2013
Pussy Riot’s Alyokhina to stay in penal colony despite plea to care for young childA court in Berezniki in the Urals has rejected imprisoned Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina's request to defer her punishment, RIA Novosti reports on Wednesday.18:37 16.01.2013
ECHR holds British Christian can wear cross at workThe European Court of Human Rights held Tuesday that the projection of a certain corporate image isn’t a good enough reason to stifle the right of employees to freedom of religion. On the other hand, the Court held that certain interests – such as those of health and equal rights – can be balanced against freedom of religion when the latter threatens to impinge upon the former.19:17 15.01.2013