Russia says U.S. government report on religious freedom is one-sided

Published: 2006-10-06

MOSCOW (CNS) -- The Russian government has accused the U.S. State Department of one-sided views about religious freedom after the U.S. criticized Russia for failing to protect the rights of Catholics and other minorities. "We did not expect balanced, unbiased judgments," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin told the Interfax news agency in late September. "As in previous years, the State Department's report abounds with inaccurate and often grossly erroneous wordings. It juggles facts, outdated information and references to apparently unreliable sources." The State Department released its annual Report on Religious Freedom Sept. 15. Kamynin said the text contained "politically motivated judgments" and ignored previous explanations to U.S. diplomats." It once again recites the standard set of unfounded critical remarks migrating from one report to another," Kamynin said. The report, which included 197 countries, said the Russian government "generally respected" the constitutional right to religious freedom, but failed to prevent restrictions by local authorities.

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