Russia: One Church Unsealed, Others Face Banning Suits – Analysis

By Victoria Arnold

In November 2025, Federal Security Service (FSB) officers, National Guard troops, prosecutor's office and fire service officials inspected a Council of Churches Baptist church in Rostov's Kirov District. In December 2025, a Magistrate's Court fined Pastor Oleg Volkov for "unlawful missionary activity". Prosecutors then sought to ban the church because it refuses to undergo state registration. They did not respond to Forum 18 as to why they are doing this. Courts have...