An institute worked on minority religion closed in Moscow

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Minority religion research institute called SOVA was shut down in Moscow.

As Religion Media Center reported the institute was accused of “gross and irreparable violations of the law and the statute of the organisation”, by participating in events outside Moscow.

The SOVA centre in Russia researched minority religions, nationalism, xenophobia, relations between the churches and the secular society, and political radicalism.

The Moscow Department of the Ministry of Justice shut down the center.

Court documents say representatives had taken part in 24 events outside Moscow between 2020 and 2022, including several with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

SOVA says the order is disproportionate. It will appeal and continue to operate until the liquidation order comes into force.