The Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation has ruled that a religious organisation registered prior to the adoption of the country's 1997 law on religion may not be liquidated purely for failing to re-register by that law's deadline of 31 December 2000. Legal rulings made in relation to the Moscow branch of the Salvation Army which differ from this are now "subject to reconsideration". Speaking to Keston News Service on 26 February, before making the 7 February Constitutional Court ruling public, lawyer to the Salvation Army Vladimir Ryakhovsky described it as "very positive", while the public relations officer for the Moscow Salvation Army commented that the church was heartened by the ruling: "It gives us hope that there is justice
Keston News Service
4. mars 2002