Skip to main content

Written question asked by Desmond Swayne (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 2026 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.


Russia: Religious Freedom

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations she to the Government of Russia on the prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other peaceful religious groups under extremism legislation in the last 12 months.

Answer

The Government champions freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad and regularly condemns the Kremlin's dire domestic human rights record in international fora. Last month, the UK and its allies at the OSCE reiterated our call for the Russian authorities to release all political prisoners and repeal their extensive repressive legislation, and the UK's Human Rights Ambassador condemned the continuing deterioration in the Kremlin's domestic human rights record. The UK will continue to call on the Russian Government to uphold its international commitments on FoRB, and to end its persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses, and other religious minorities.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
2671
Session
2026-27
Related items
Russia: Religious Freedom
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Russia: Religious Freedom
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Jehovah's Witnesses Religious freedom Russia
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk