Russia: First criminal case of Protestant opposing invasion of Ukraine

5 May 2022:  Forum 18 reported: “Nina Belyayeva, a Protestant who is a Communist Party municipal deputy, has become the first known person in Russia to face criminal prosecution for opposing the war in Ukraine on explicitly religious grounds. In late April, Voronezh Region Investigative Committee named Belyayeva a suspect under the new Criminal Code Article 207.3 (‘Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation’) for her remarks during a meeting of Semiluk District Council, in which she called Russia’s invasion a war crime. By the time the case was opened, she had already fled Russia.”

World Watch Research analyst Rolf Zeegers comments: “Speaking out against government policies in Russia is becoming increasingly risky. This fact, combined with the growing levels of state propaganda, make it very difficult for Christians in Russia to even mention the war in Ukraine. So far, few Protestants in Russia have dared to speak out since they know that they will be prosecuted like Belyayeva and not stand a fair trial (Forum 18, 6 May 2022). As the Russian judiciary is far from independent, Belyayeva can expect to receive a sentence of up to three years in prison.”