Russian court orders deportation of Uzbek over ‘prayer in public’

MOSCOW (MNTV) – The Nizhnevartovsk District Court has ordered the deportation of an Uzbek citizen found guilty of “illegal missionary activity,” according to the joint press service of the courts of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

In a statement, the court said the man, described as a practicing Muslim, conducted missionary activity five times a day by performing the religious rite of salat in a dormitory where he was residing.

The court determined the prayers were public in nature because the door to the room was not locked, allowing access to dormitory residents and other individuals.

According to the press service, the man was not a representative of any registered religious organization and did not possess state registration documents authorizing missionary work.

He also discussed his faith and religious beliefs with third parties, including fellow dormitory residents, and kept religious literature in the room that was freely accessible.

The individual had been working in the region on a rotational basis and was living in employer-provided dormitory housing. Authorities launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a neighbor.

The man’s actions were classified under Part 5 of Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which addresses violations of legislation governing freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and religious associations when committed by a foreign citizen.

The court imposed an administrative fine of 30,000 rubles (approximately $— at current exchange rates) and ordered his forced administrative deportation from Russia.

In determining the additional penalty of deportation, the court cited the man’s lack of strong social ties in Russia, noting that he did not own property in the country and had no close relatives residing there.