This report documents the systematic persecution of religious communities in Russia during and after the full-scale war against Ukraine. Based on interviews, archival research, and documentary evidence, Sergei Chapnin examines the state's suppression of independent religious communities, the Russian Orthodox Church's complicity in state violence, and the theological and ethical questions these developments raise for believers and scholars worldwide.
The book includes analysis of legal persecution, theological corruption, and the weaponization of religious language and imagery by state and church authorities. It is essential reading for scholars of religion and politics, human rights advocates, and anyone seeking to understand the religious dimensions of contemporary Russian authoritarianism.
Endorsements
"A vital and courageous work. Chapnin brings together meticulous documentation with theological insight to illuminate the religious crisis at the heart of contemporary Russia."
Dr. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury
"An unflinching examination of how the Moscow Patriarchate has become an instrument of state ideology. This book is required reading for understanding modern Russia."
Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian dissident and writer
"Chapnin's work is a testament to the power of critical scholarship in the service of freedom. He documents not only persecution but also the resilience of faith communities in extraordinary times."
Archbishop Elpidoforos of America
"A profound contribution to our understanding of the intersection of religion, power, and human dignity. Essential for anyone concerned with religious freedom and the Orthodox Christian tradition."
John Chryssavgis, Patriarchal Ecological Advisor
