(Russian) RUSSIAN FEDERATION FEDERAL LAW On the Freedom of Conscience and on Religious Associations The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, affirming the right of each to the freedom of conscience and the
freedom of religion, as well as equality before the law regardless of his
attitude toward religion or [his] convictions; adopts this Federal Law. CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS A r t i c l e 1. This Federal Law regulates legal relationships in the area of the civil and human rights to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion, as secured by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as the legal status of religious associations. A r t i c l e 2. 1. Legislation on the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, and on religious associations is composed from the corresponding norms of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, this Federal Law, normative legal acts adopted in accordance with them, and normative legal acts of subjects of the Russian Federation. 2. Human and civil rights to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion are regulated by federal law. Laws and other normative legal acts adopted in the Russian Federation that touch on the exercise of the rights to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion, as well as the activity of religious associations, must conform to this federal law. In the event of a conflict between this Federal Law and the normative legal acts of subjects of the Russian Federation on matters concerning the protection of the rights to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion, as well as on matters concerning the activity of religious associations, this Federal Law is applied. 3. Nothing in legislation on the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, and on religious associations should be interpreted in the sense of belittling or infringing upon the human and civil rights to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion, which are guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, or which result from international agreements of the Russian Federation. A r t i c l e 3. 1. The freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion, including the right to practice any religion either individually or jointly with others (or to practice none at all), and to freely choose, change, possess, and spread religious and other convictions and to act in accordance with them, are guaranteed in the Russian Federation. Foreign citizens, as well as individuals without citizenship, who are located on the territory of the Russian Federation on a legal basis, enjoy the right to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion equally with citizens of the Russian Federation, and bear accountability for the violation of legislation on the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, and on religious associations as established by federal law. 2. The human and civil rights to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion may be restricted by federal law only to the degree which is necessary for the goals of protecting the foundation of the constitutional system, morality, health, rights and other human and civil legal interests, as well as provision for the national defense and state security. 3. The establishment of privileges, restrictions, or other forms of discrimination on the basis of [one's] attitude toward religion is not permitted. 4. Citizens of the Russian Federation are equal before the law in all areas of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural life, regardless of their attitude toward religion and religious affiliation. In the event that the convictions or religion of a citizen of the Russian Federation are in conflict with the fulfillment of military service, he has the right to replace it with alternative civil service. By the request of religious organizations, clergymen may be granted a deferment for conscription into military service during peacetime by the President of the Russian Federation in accordance with Russian Federation legislation on military duty and military service, and are exempted from calls for periodic military training. 5. No one is obligated to make notification regarding his attitude towards religion, and may not be subject to coercion upon determining his attitude towards religion, the practice or refusal to practice a religion, participation or non-participation in worship services, other religious rites and ceremonies, in the activity of religious associations, or in the teaching of religion. The involvement of underage children in religious associations, as well as the teaching of religion to underage children against their will and without the agreement of their parents or their substitutes, is forbidden. 6. Obstruction of the exercise of one's right to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion, including that which is linked with violence to the individual, intentional insults to the sensibilities of citizens in connection with their attitude toward religion, the propaganda of religious superiority, the destruction or damage of property or threats to commit such acts, are forbidden and subject to prosecution in accordance with the law. The holding of public events, as well as the placement of text and images which insult the religious sensibilities of citizens near to objects of religious reverence, is forbidden. 7. Ecclesiastical privilege is protected by the law. A clergyman may not be prosecuted for refusal to testify on circumstances that became known to him during confession. A r t i c l e 4. 1. The Russian Federation is a secular state. No religion may installed as the state religion or be made mandatory. Religious associations are separate from the State and equal before the law. 2. In accordance with the constitutional principle of separation of religious associations from the State, the State: does not interfere in a citizen's decision concerning his relationship to religion or religious affiliation, in the education of children by parents or their substitutes in accordance with their own convictions and taking into consideration the right of the child to the freedom of conscience and freedom of religion; does not place upon religious associations the fulfillment of functions of state governmental agencies, other state agencies, state institutions, or agencies of local government; does not interfere in the activity of religious associations, if it is not in conflict with this Federal Law; guarantees the secular nature of education in state and municipal educational institutions. 3. The State regulates the granting of tax and other benefits to religious organizations, renders financial, material, and other assistance to religious organizations in the restoration, maintenance, and protection of buildings and objects that are historical and cultural monuments, and also in the provision of teaching general educational disciplines in educational institutions, which are created by religious organizations in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation on education. 4. The activity of state governmental agencies and local government agencies is not accompanied by public religious rites and ceremonies. Officials of state governmental agencies, other governmental agencies, and local governmental agencies, as well as servicemen, do not have the right to use their office for the formation of any attitudes [of others] to religion whatsoever. 5. In accordance with the constitutional principles of the separation of religious associations from the State, religious associations: are created and carry out their activity in accordance with their own hierarchical and institutional structure, choose, appoint, and replace their personnel in agreement with their own canon; do not carry out the functions of state governmental agencies, other governmental agencies, state institutions, and local governmental agencies; do not participate in elections of state government and local governmental agencies; do not participate in the activity of political parties and political movements, and do not render them material or other assistance. 6. The separation of religious associations from the State does not incur the restriction of the rights of members of the indicated associations to participate equally with others in the administration of state affairs, elections to state governmental bodies and local governmental bodies, the activity of political parties, political movements, and other public organizations. 7. By the request of religious organizations, the corresponding state governmental bodies in the Russian Federation have the right to declare religious holidays to be non-working days (holidays) on the corresponding territories. A r t i c l e 5. 1. Each has the right to the religious education of his own choice, either individually or jointly with others. 2. The education and upbringing of children is carried out by the parents or their substitutes taking into consideration the right of the child to the freedom of conscience and the freedom of religion. 3. Religious organizations have the right to create educational institutions in accordance with their charters and the legislation of the Russian Federation. 4. By request of parents or their substitutes, and with the agreement of the children being taught in state and municipal educational institutions, the administration of the indicated institutions, by agreement with the local governmental agency, grants religious organizations the opportunity to teach religion to children outside the framework of the educational program. CHAPTER II. RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS A r t i c l e 6. 1. Recognized as religious associations in the Russian Federation are those voluntary associations of citizens of the Russian Federation, and other individuals, permanently living on the territory of the Russian Federation on legal grounds, formed with the goal of the joint practice and spread of one's faith and possessing indicators that correspond to this goal, [namely]:
2. Religious associations may be created in the form of a religious group or a religious organization. 3. The creation of religious associations in state governmental agencies, other state agencies, state institutions, and local governmental agencies, military units, or other state and municipal organizations, is forbidden. 4. The creation and activity of religious associations, the goals and actions of which are in conflict with the law, is forbidden. A r t i c l e 7. 1. Recognized as a religious group in this Federal Law is a voluntary association of citizens formed with the goal of the joint practice and spread of faith and carrying out its activity without state registration or acquisition of the legal rights and responsibilities of a legal entity. Premises and property necessary for the activity of a religious group is granted for the group's use by its participants. 2. Citizens which form a religious group with the purpose of later transforming it into a religious organization notify the local governmental agency of its creation and the commencement of its activity. 3. Religious groups have the right to perform worship services, other religious rites and ceremonies, as well as to carry out the teaching of religion to and the religious training of its followers. A r t i c l e 8. 1. Recognized as religious organizations are those voluntary associations of citizens of the Russian Federation, and other individuals, permanently living on the territory of the Russian Federation on legal grounds, that are formed with the goal of the joint practice and spread of faith, and have registered in the capacity of a legal entity according to the procedure established by law. 2. Religious organizations, depending on the territorial sphere of their activity, are subdivided into local and centralized [organizations]. 3. Recognized as local religious organizations are those religious organizations made up of ten or more participants who have reached eighteen years of age and who permanently reside in one locality, or in one municipal or village settlement. 4. Recognized as centralized religious organizations are those religious organizations that are composed of no less than three local religious organizations in accordance with their charters. 5. A centralized religious organization, the structures of which have been active on the territory of the Russian Federation on legal grounds for a period of no less than 50 years, has the right to use the words "Russia", "Russian", and their derivatives in its title at the moment the indicated religious organization turns to the registering agency with an application for state registration. 6. Recognized as religious organizations are also those institutions or organizations created by a centralized religious organization in accordance with its charter, and which have goals and the indicators stipulated by Article 6, Item 1, of this Federal Law, including a governing or coordinating body or institution, as well as an institution of professional religious education. 7. State governmental agencies, upon consideration of matters which relate to the activity of religious organizations in society, take into consideration the territorial sphere of activity of the religious organization and grant the corresponding religious organizations the opportunity to participate in the consideration of the indicated matters. 8. The title of a religious organization must contain information concerning its denominational affiliation. A religious organization is obligated to indicate its complete title when carrying out its activity. 9. Religious organizations are obligated to annually inform the agency registering them as to the continuation of their activity, indicating the information included in the single state register for legal entities. The indicated information on local religious organizations may be presented to the registering agency by the corresponding centralized religious organization. Failure to present the indicated information for a period of three years is grounds for the registering agency to turn to the court with a lawsuit for recognizing the religious organization as having ceased its activity. A r t i c l e 9. 1. Founders of a local religious organization may be no less than ten citizens of the Russian Federation, joined into a religious group, and having a confirmation from the local governmental agencies of its existence on the given territory for a period of no less than 15 years, or a confirmation issued by the centralized religious organization of the same denomination of its membership in the indicated organization's structure. 2. Centralized religious organizations are formed when there exist no less than three local religious organizations of one denomination in accordance with those religious organizations' own established [procedures], providing that they are not in conflict with the law. A r t i c l e 10. 1. A religious organization may operate on the basis of its charter, which is ratified by its founders or the centralized religious organization and must meet the requirements of civil legislation of the Russian Federation. 2. The charter of a religious organization indicates: its title, location, and type of religious organization, denomination, and, in the event that it is associated with an existing centralized religious organization, [that organization's] title; its goals, tasks, and principal forms of activity; the procedures for its creation and the cessation of its activity; its organizational structure, its administrative agencies, and the procedure for their formation, as well as their jurisdiction; the organization's sources for the formation of monetary resources and other property; the procedure for introducing amendments and additions to its charter; its procedure for the disposal of its property in the event of the cessation of its activity; other information relating to particularities of the activity of the given religious organization. A r t i c l e 11. 1. State registration of religious organizations is carried out by the federal justice agency and justice agencies of subjects of the Russian Federation in the procedure established in accordance with the civil legislation of the Russian Federation and this Federal Law. 2. State registration of local and centralized religious organizations, made up of local religious organizations, located within the boundaries of one subject of the Russian Federation, is carried out by the justice agency of the corresponding subject of the Russian Federation. 3. The federal justice agency registers centralized religious organizations that have local religious organizations on the territories of two or more subjects of the Russian Federation. 4. The state registration of religious organizations formed by centralized religious organizations in accordance with Article 8, Item 6 of this Federal Law, is carried out by the justice agency that registered the corresponding religious organization. 5. For government registration of a local religious organization, the founders submit to the corresponding justice agency: an application for registration; a list of the individuals creating the religious organization indicating their citizenship, place of residence, and date of birth; the charter of the religious organization; the protocol of the founding assembly; a document, confirming the existence of the religious group on the given territory for a period of no less than fifteen years issued by the local governmental agency, or confirming its membership in the centralized religious organization, issued by its governing center. information concerning the bases of its teachings and the practice corresponding to them, including the history of the origins of the religion and the given association, the forms and methods of its activity, its attitudes toward family and marriage, education, particularities of its attitude toward the health of the followers of the given religion, restrictions on members and ministers of the organization as regards their civil rights and responsibilities; a document confirming the location (legal address) of the religious organization being created. 6. In the event that the higher governing agency (center) of the religious organization being formed is located beyond the boundaries of the Russian Federation, the charter or other fundamental document of the foreign religious organization, which has been confirmed by the state agency of the country in which such organization is located, is presented in the established procedure in addition to the documents indicated in Item 5 of this Article. 7. The bases for state registration of centralized religious organizations, as well as religious organizations formed by centralized religious organizations, are: an application for registration; a list of the founders of the religious organization; the charter of the religious organization being created, which has been ratified by its founder (founders); a document confirming the location of the governing agency (legal address) of the religious organization being created; notarized copies of the charter and certificate of state registration of the founder (founders). the corresponding decision of the legally empowered agency of the founder (founders); Upon the creation of a centralized religious organization, the founder (founders) also presents the charters of no less than three local religious organizations entering into its structure, as well as the information concerning other religious organizations entering into the indicated structure. 8. An application for government registration of a religious organization created by a centralized religious organization, or on the grounds of a confirmation issued to a centralized religious organization, is considered within a one-month period from the date that all the documents stipulated by this Article are presented. In other cases the registering agency has the right to extend the period for consideration of the documents for up to six months in order to conduct a state religious studies expertise. The procedure for conducting the state expertise is set by the Government of the Russian Federation. 9. In the event that the applicant (applicants) do not observe the requirements stipulated in Items 5-7 of this Article, the registering agency has the right to leave the application without consideration with notification of this to the applicant (applicants). 10. In the event that the registering agency decides to register the religious organization, the registering agency issues a certificate in the established format for the state registration of a religious organization to the applicant, and enters information concerning [its] state registration into the single state register of legal entities, which is open for viewing by the public. 11. Amendments and additions introduced into the charters of religious organizations are subject to registration in the procedure stipulated for the registration of religious organizations, and come into effect for third parties from the day of state registration. 12. In the event of a change in the information included in the single state register of legal entities, the religious organization notifies the registering agency within a month from the date of the introduction of such a change. A r t i c l e 12. 1. A religious organization may be denied state registration if: the goals and activity of the religious organization are in conflict with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and legislation of the Russian Federation - with a reference to the specific articles of the [corresponding] laws; the organization being created is not recognized as being [of a] religious [nature]; the charter and other documents presented do not correspond to the requirements of legislation of the Russian Federation, or the information contained within them is not reliable; the legal entity of an earlier registered organization with the same name is present in the common state register; the founder (founders) lacks legal authority. 2. In the event of the denial of state registration to a religious organization, the decision taken is reported to the applicant (applicants) in writing, indicating the grounds for the denial. The [supposed] inexpediency of creating the religious organization may not serve as the motive for issuance of a denial. 3. The refusal of a registering agency to grant state registration to a religious organization, as well as evasion of such registration, may be appealed in court. A r t i c l e 13. 1. A foreign religious organization is defined as an organization that has been created beyond the boundaries of the Russian Federation and in accordance with the legislation of a foreign state. 2. A foreign religious organization may granted the right to open its representation on the territory of the Russian Federation. The representation of a foreign religious organization may not engage in worship or other religious activities, and the status of a religious association, as established by this Federal Law, is not applied to it. 3. The procedure for registration and the opening and closing of representations of foreign religious organizations is established by the Government of the Russian Federation in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. 4. In the event that the decision is made to register the representation of a foreign religious organization, its representative is issued a certificate in the format established by the Government of the Russian Federation. 5. Russian religious organizations have the right to have before them the representation of a foreign religious organization. A r t i c l e 14. 1. Religious organizations can be liquidated: by decision of their founders or the agency empowered to do so by the religious organization's charter; by decision of the court in the case of repeated or serious violations of the standards of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, this Federal Law and other federal laws, or in the event of the systematic carrying out of activities by the religious organization which are in conflict with the goals for which it was created (its chartered goals). 2. Among the grounds for liquidation of a religious organization or the ban of the activity of a religious organization or a religious group by court procedure are the following: their violation of public security and public order, undermining state security; actions, directed toward violent change of the foundations of the constitutional system and disruption of the unity of the Russian Federation; the creation of armed formations; the propaganda of war, the fomentation of social, racial, national, or religious discord, misanthropy; coercion to dissolve the family; infringements upon the individual and the rights and freedoms of the citizenry; the infliction of damage (as established in accordance with the law) to the morality and health of citizens, including by the use of narcotic and mind-altering substances, hypnosis, and the committing of depraved and other illegal actions in connection with their religious activity; inclining [others] to commit suicide or the refusal of the rendering of medical assistance to individuals in a health- or life-threatening state for religious motives; obstructing [others] from receiving mandatory education; the coercion of members and followers of religious associations and others to alienate property belonging to them for the benefit of the religious association; obstructing citizens from leaving the religious organization through the threat of inflicting harm to life, health, or property, if there is a real danger its being carried out; or influencing through the application of force or other illegal actions; motivating citizens to refuse to fulfill their civic responsibilities as established by law, as well as the committing of other illegal acts. 3. Agencies of the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation and the agency carrying out the registration of religious organizations, as well as local governmental agencies, have the right to submit to the court a representation for the liquidation of a religious organization and the ban of the activity of a religious organization or religious group. 4. The legal rights and responsibilities of a liquidated religious organization as a legal entity are terminated, and the property of the indicated religious organization is distributed in accordance with its charter and the civil legislation of the Russian Federation. 5. The bases and procedure for liquidating a religious organization on decision of the court are also applied in relation to the ban of the activity of religious groups. CHAPTER III. RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ACTIVITY OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS A r t i c l e 15. 1. Religious organizations operate in accordance with their internal canons, if they are not in conflict with the legislation of the Russian Federation, and possess the legal rights and responsibilities provided for in their charters. 2. The State respects the internal canons of religious organizations if the indicated canons are not in conflict with the legislation of the Russian Federation. A r t i c l e 16. 1. Religious organizations have the right to found and maintain buildings and structures for worship, and other premises and installations, which are specially set aside for worship services, prayer and religious assemblies, and for religious reverence (pilgrimages). 2. Worship services and other religious rites and ceremonies are performed without hindrance in buildings and structures for worship and the territories connected to them, and in other locations presented to religious organizations for these purposes, sites for pilgrimage, in the institutions and enterprises of religious organizations, in cemeteries and crematoriums, as well as in living quarters. 3. Religious organizations have the right to conduct religious rites in institutions of prophylactic medicine and hospitals, children's homes, homes for the elderly or disabled, and in institutions where sentences are served for criminal acts in the form of imprisonment - upon being requested to do so by citizens located there, and in quarters specially set apart for such purposes by the administration. The conducting of religious rituals in premises of incarceration are permitted with observance of the criminal procedure legislation of the Russian Federation. 4. The command of military units, taking into consideration the requirements of military regulations, does not hinder servicemen from participating in worship services and other religious rituals and ceremonies. 5. In other instances, public worship services and other religious rites and ceremonies are carried out in the procedure established for the conducting of rallies, marches, and demonstrations. A r t i c l e 17. 1. Religious organizations have the right to produce, acquire, export, import, and distribute religious literature; printed, audio, and video materials; and other items set aside for religious purposes. 2. Religious organizations enjoy the exclusive right to found enterprises for publishing literature for the purpose of worship and producing items for the purpose of worship. 3. Literature, as well as printed, audio, and video materials that are issued by religious organizations, must be marked with the complete official title of the given religious organization. A r t i c l e 18. 1. Religious organizations have the right to conduct charitable activity both directly and through the creation of charitable organizations. 2. Religious organizations have the right to create cultural/educational organizations, [other types of] educational and other institutions, and also to found media for mass communication for the realization of their chartered goals and tasks, in the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation. 3. The State supports and promotes the charitable activity of religious organizations, as well as their conducting of socially significant cultural/educational programs and events. A r t i c l e 19. 1. Religious organizations, in accordance with their charters, have the exclusive right to create foundations of professional religious education (spiritual educational foundations) for the training of ministers and religious personnel. 2. Institutions of professional religious education are subject to registration in the capacity of religious organizations, and receive a state license for the right to conduct educational activity. 3. Citizens trained in the classrooms of departments of institutions of professional religious education, which have a state license, enjoy the right of deferral of conscription to military service in accordance with the legislation on military duty and military service and other benefits provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation. A r t i c l e 20. 1. Religious organizations have the right to establish and maintain international ties and contacts, including those for the goal of pilgrimages, participation in assemblies and other events, for the receipt of religious education, and also to invite foreign citizens for these goals. 2. Religious organizations have the exclusive right to invite foreign citizens with the goal of engaging in professional religious activity, including preaching, in the given organizations in accordance with legislation of the Russian Federation. A r t i c l e 21. 1. The property of religious organizations may include buildings, plots of land, installations for manufacturing, social, charitable, cultural/educational and other purposes, items for religious purposes, monetary resources and other property necessary for carrying out their activity, including that which is related to cultural and historical monuments. 2. Religious organizations possess the right to the ownership of property acquired or created by them through their own resources, that which has been donated by citizens, organizations, or property transferred to religious organizations' ownership by the State, or acquired on other grounds that are not in conflict with legislation of the Russian Federation. 3. The transfer of the ownership of state or municipal property (buildings and structures for worship, the land associated with them, and other property for religious purposes) to religious organizations for use by them for functional purposes is implemented free of charge. 4. Religious organizations have the right to the ownership of property abroad. 5. Creditors may not exact claims against movable property or real estate set aside for worship purposes. The list of types of property set aside for the purpose of worship, against which claims may not be exacted by creditors, is established by the Government of the Russian Federation according to the proposals of religious organizations. A r t i c l e 22. 1. Religious organizations have the right to use for their own needs plots of land, buildings, and property presented to them by state, municipal, public, and other organizations and citizens in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. 2. The transfer of buildings and structures for worship and the related plots of land and other property for religious purposes, which is state or municipal ownership, to religious organizations for use in their functional purpose, is carried out without charge. A r t i c l e 23. Religious organizations have the right to conduct business activity and create their own enterprises in the procedure established by the legislation of the Russian Federation. A r t i c l e 24. 1. Religious organizations have the right to conclude labor agreements (contracts) with workers in accordance with their charters. 2. Payment and other labor conditions are established in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation through a labor agreement (contract) between the religious organization (employer) and the worker. 3. The labor legislation of the Russian Federation is applied to citizens who work for religious organizations under a labor agreement (contract). 4. Employees of religious organizations, as well as clergymen, are subject to social security, social insurance, and the provision of a pension in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. CHAPTER IV. SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER THE OBSERVANCE OF LEGISLATION ON THE FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS A r t i c l e 25. 1. Supervision over the observance of legislation of the Russian Federation on the freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and on religious organizations is implemented by agencies of the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation. 2. The agency that registers a religious organization carries out control over its observance of its charter as regards the goals and procedures of its activity. A r t i c l e 26. The violation of legislation of the Russian Federation on the freedom of conscience, the freedom of religion, and on religious associations incurs criminal, administrative, and other accountability in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. A r t i c l e 27. 1. This Federal Law comes into effect from the day it is officially published. 2. The Government of the Russian Federation is to adopt the normative legal acts necessary for execution of this Federal Law. 3. The charters and other founding documents of religious organizations created before this Federal Law comes into effect are subject to being brought into accordance with this Federal Law. Before they are brought into accordance with this Federal Law, the charters and other founding documents of religious organizations have force only in those parts which are not in conflict with this Federal Law. The re-registration of religious organizations for which there are grounds for the liquidation or the ban of their activity, as indicated in Article 14, Item 2 of this Federal Law, is not carried out. Upon the denial of re-registration for the indicated grounds, the registering agency turns the materials over to the court. Religious organizations which do not have a document confirming their existence on the corresponding territory for a period of no less than fifteen years enjoy the rights of a legal entity on the condition of their annual re-registration until the expiration of the indicated fifteen-year period. During this period the indicated religious organizations are not to enjoy the rights stipulated in Article 3, Item 4; Article 5, Items 3 and 4; Article 13, Item 5; Article 16, Item 3; Article 17, Items 1 and 2; Article 18, Item 2 of (as applicable to educational institutions and mass media); Article 19; and Article 20, Item 2 of this Federal Law. 4. The state re-registration of religious organizations created before this Federal Law comes into effect must be carried out no later than December 31, 1999, in accordance with the requirements of this Federal Law. Upon the expiration of the indicated period, religious organizations that have not passed through re-registration are may be liquidated by court procedure upon the declaration of the agency that carried out state registration of the religious organization. 5. The RSFSR [Russian Soviet Federate Socialist Republic] Law "On the Freedom of Religion" (Official Bulletin of the RSFSR Congress of People's Deputies and the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, 1990, No. 21, Article 240; Legislative Assembly of the Russian Federation, 1995, No. 5, Article 346) and the Decree of the RSFSR Supreme Soviet "On the Procedure for Implementation of the RSFSR Law "On the Freedom of Religion" (Official Bulletin of the RSFSR Congress of People's Deputies and the RSFSR Supreme Soviet, 1990, No. 21, p. 241) is considered to be no longer in force from the day that this Federal Law comes into effect. President of the Moscow, Kremlin
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