Christian Persecution Ramps Up in Russia
The first reports of Christian leaders being arrested in Russia following the passing of new anti-terrorism laws that ban evangelism outside of churches have started coming in.
The Moscow Times reports that Sergei Zhuravlyov, a representative of the Ukrainian Reformed Orthodox Church of Christ the Savior, was arrested earlier this month while he was preaching before the St. Petersburg Messianic Jewish community, and was charged with violating a provision of the law that bans illegal missionary activity.
Law enforcement officials later told Interfax news agency that Zhuravlyov is being accused of "fomenting negative attitudes toward the Russian Orthodox Church," and of having ties to the Ukrainian nationalist political party called Right Sector, which is banned in Russia.
