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<\/p>\nRussia isn’t cracking down on religious minorities, and claims to the contrary are part of a concerted smear campaign by the US, a senior Moscow diplomat has insisted after Washington added the country to a rights blacklist.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe Americans\u2019 categorical statement on \u2018egregious violations of religious freedom\u2019 is outrageous,\u201d\u00a0Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Gennady Askaldovich told journalists on Monday.\u00a0\u201cWe must repeat again and again that there is no religious persecution in Russia. There is no one who could be considered a \u2018prisoner of conscience\u2019 even at a stretch. I remind you, that in the Russian justice system punishment is decided based on facts and on the severity of the misdemeanor and crime.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The diplomat\u2019s comments come after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken included Russia on a list of countries that Washington believes violate freedoms of believers.\u00a0\u201cCertainly, this typical American attack, which fits in a series of other unfriendly actions by the US in relation to our country, will not go unnoticed,\u201d\u00a0Askaldovich went on.<\/p>\n We will expose the Americans\u2019 desire to use the religious factor for the realization of their global ambitions. This example of crude American pressure is not our way,\u201d\u00a0he blasted.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Blinken announced ten countries Washington claims are\u00a0\u201cengaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.”\u00a0In addition to Russia, the list included China, Myanmar, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Eritrea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. Nigeria, which had been on the list last year, was removed.<\/p>\n \u201cIn far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs,\u201d\u00a0Blinken said at the time.<\/p>\n Moscow maintains that the US is politicizing the religious sphere and using \u2018human rights\u2019 as a pretext for sanctions.\u00a0\u201cHave the steps taken by the Americans, their dictate and their political pressure, led to any positive results?\u201d\u00a0asked Askaldovich.\u00a0\u201cIf I\u2019m not mistaken, there are no examples in the history of international relations. It is an inertial approach, driving a situation that requires delicacy, tact, and restraint into a dead end.\u201d<\/p>\n The most common religion in Russia is Orthodox Christianity, which, according to a 2017 Pew Forum survey, around 70% of people say is their faith, while the country has one of the largest Muslim minorities in the world. Moscow has, however, come under fire from international groups for effectively outlawing Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses as a religious organization. The group was termed \u2018extremist\u2019 in 2017 by the Russian Supreme Court over beliefs and activities that officials say are harmful to society. Those breaching the ruling face arrest and prosecution.<\/p>\n