The new law bans preaching, praying, proselytizing, and disseminating religious materials outside of officially-designated sites, and authorizes fines for these activities conducted in private residences or distributed through mass print, broadcast or online media.
The anti-terrorism measure amends the 1997 Russian religion law by redefining “missionary activities” as religious practices that take place outside of state-sanctioned sites. Foreign missionaries also must prove they were invited by state-registered religious groups and must operate only in regions where their sponsoring organizations are registered; those found in violation face deportation and major fines.
Sources: World Watch Monitor and Global Legal Monitor