Prosecutions for statements and actions related to religion have surged in Russia. While such cases were rare in the 2010s, they have multiplied rapidly in recent years. A record was set in 2024, with 74 people prosecuted, and in just the first months of 2025 at least 59 more Russians have already faced charges.
According to Verstka, since 2013 at least 213 people have faced criminal cases for “offending religious feelings,” while another 116 Russians and Crimean residents received administrative penalties for “desecrating religious symbols.”
Lawyers and human rights defenders link this surge to the government’s political course: an emphasis on “traditional values,” recent amendments to the religion law, and growing political tensions. In many cases, representatives of religious organizations themselves — including clergy — act as complainants or expert witnesses for the prosecution.
Experts warn that these cases are becoming a tool of repression, severely restricting freedom of speech and freedom of religion, rights guaranteed under international law. In practice, any criticism, satire, or dissenting statement about religion may now lead to criminal charges.
Read the full investigation on Verstka.