The aspect of Russian President Vladimir Putin's sweeping new police and counter-terrorism laws that gravely restricts religious activity is drawing increased scorn and scrutiny.

Known as the "Yarovaya Law," the overall measure is widely seen as an attempt to stifle and repress any resistance to the hard-line Soviet leader.

In particular, the religious restrictions place tight provisions on the activities of religious groups, especially those of smaller denominations. It goes as far as barring prayer meetings from taking place anywhere other than in venues officially recognized as religious institutions.

Religious group followers could also find themselves prohibited from e-mailing invitations to people interested in services, with violators subject to fines and potentially being expelled from the country.

Law Takes Effect in 2018

Putin's decree is slated to officially become the law of the land on July 1, 2018.

Those such as U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom leader Thomas J. Reese are convinced the added restrictions "will make it easier for Russian authorities to repress religious communities, stifle peaceful dissent, and detain and imprison people."

Reese added he's of the opinion neither the religious provisions nor the anti-extremism laws as a whole meet international human rights or freedom of religious expression standards.

Four Major Religions

Over the last two plus decades or since the breakup of the communist Soviet Union, Russian society has largely consisted of four "traditional" faiths.

Over that time, the Russian Orthodox Church has particularly flourished, while followers of Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism have also operated in relative peace and prosperity.

For smaller denominations, such as Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses, nothing could be further from the truth, with members of those congregations openly complaining of hostile treatment and laws set up to make their existence all the more challenging.

The Utah based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, widely known as Mormons, has already asserted the new enactments stand to have a negative impact on the missionary work done by its 23,000 members stationed there.

Added Pentecostal church leader and Russian based Protestant church co-head Sergei Ryakhovsky, "The obligation on every believer to have a special permit to spread his or her beliefs, as well as hand out religious literature and material outside of places of worship and used structures, is not only absurd and offensive, but also creates the basis for mass persecution of believers for violating these provisions."

Related