Baptist pastor fined in Kuban for illegal missionary activities

In Tuapse, a court fined Baptist pastor Anatoly Mukhin 5000 roubles, finding him guilty of illegal missionary activities.

The official website of the Tuapse City Court reports that on June 23, Anatoly Mukhin, “who claims to be a pastor of a church of evangelical Christians-Baptists, not registered under the procedure prescribed by the law,” held a service in a residential building. Before that, Anatoly Mukhin “disseminated information about his faith on the Internet.”

Two citizens who are not members of the above-mentioned religious group attended the service. Two witnesses spoke at the court hearing. One of them said that an unknown man handed him over a brochure about Baptists on the street, after which he decided to attend the service. During its course, the man heard that the Baptists “denied weapons and any military activity.” He did not like what he heard, since he supports the special military operation (SMO). The second witness said he learned about the service on the Internet.

Anatoly Mukhin did not admit his guilt and explained that he preached during the service, but did not try to involve anyone in the religious group.