A team of Russian lawmakers will fly on...

A team of Russian lawmakers will fly on Wednesday to Ukraine to take part in monitoring the runoff presidential election on February 7, the head of the Russian delegation said.

STAVROPOL, June 21 (RIA Novosti"s Valery...

STAVROPOL, June 21 (RIA Novosti"s Valery Oliyanchuk) - The ataman council of the Georgiyevsk department of the Tersky Cossack Troops in the Stavropol territory (Russia"s south) has sent an open letter to the local and territorial authorities condemning the activities of Jehovah"s Witnesses. First of all, the Cossacks and Orthodox clergymen are concerned about the political activities of the sect. In particular, the sect prohibits its members to serve in the army, join other organizations, vote in elections, respect the national flag and anthem, and celebrate birthdays and Christian holidays. The main purpose of Jehovah"s Witnesses is to collect money and enlist new members. "On March 26, 2004 Moscow"s Golovinsky Court satisfied the petition of the prosecutor"s office of Moscow"s northern district and decided to liquidate the community of Jehovah"s Witnesses in accordance with Article 14 of the law on freedom of conscience as its activities are aimed at religious discord, breaking families, etc." the open letter reads. It contains the request of Cossacks and Orthodox clergymen to thoroughly analyze the activities of Jehovah"s Witnesses in the Stavropol territory, first of all, the Georgiyevsk district, and to take relevant measures. The suit against Jehovah"s Witnesses was initiated in September 1998. Having checked the community, the prosecutor"s office of Moscow"s northern district came to the conclusion that its activities are aimed at religious discord, breaking families, etc. Moreover, Jehovah"s witnesses persuaded gravely ill people to give up medical aid for religious reasons. The prosecutor"s office accused Jehovah"s Witnesses of extremist activities.

The growing influence of Islam in the North...

The growing influence of Islam in the North Caucasus, a reflection of increasing disillusionment with the Russian political system, is transforming the region into Russia’s “internal abroad,” where people “have portraits of Putin and Medvedev [on their walls] but are for shariat law,” according to a leading Moscow specialist.