Andrei was a youth pastor and contractor in Russia. An oppressive law that passed in 2016 banned the public sharing of one's Christian faith. After receiving threats from Russian officials on the lives of his two children, Andrei, his married woman Galina and their children fled from Russian federation every bit refugees, and arrived in Minnesota in 2019. We interviewed Andrei most life in Russia and the persecution he left behind:

Q: Tell united states of america about how the 2016 Yaravaya law was implemented in Russia?

A: Russia adopted a law making it unconstitutional to be a Christian, even though the (Russian) constitution says you are free to profess whatsoever faith. (The Yarovaya law increases regulation of evangelism, including a ban on the performance of "missionary activities" in non-religious settings.)

Based on this police, which is agile correct now, if you declare that you belief this or that or if you publically invite someone to church building, of if you share an invitation to a Christian briefing or service on facebook, sometimes even if you only attend church building you will receive a huge fine or you can be jailed for upwards to 3 years. If you correspond a church as a pastor or leader, then the fine is $1M rubles ($fifteen,700) and up to 5 years in jail, if they can prove that you were promoting your faith.

Information technology'southward not like you have much of a pick; you can either be tranquillity, or try non to be afraid and continue sharing your faith. Some Christians were imprisoned, others were trying to motility across the border into Finland.

Jehovah'southward Witnesses were the first religious organization to be chosen an extremist organisation (and were kicked out of the country), and evangelicals are non too far behind (from existence considered an extremist organisation). I was told another police was coming that would have children away from Evangelical homes.

Q: How did Russia enforce this law in Christian places of worship?

A: The (Russian security service) investigators would but evidence up at a church service and would enquire around for more information on specific people. Then they would subtly threaten people by reminding them that kids often use drugs in Russia, and you never know what could happen to your kids.  Investigators wanted me to cooperate and inform on other people.

Q: Did your church's services e'er get raided in this way?

A: Aye, we had a youth Christian concert at a church, and we invited some students, and a speaker from Ukraine. Some police force and domestic security officials ran into the building, and stopped everybody and held people earnest, and nosotros had a large group of people in omnipresence. They wouldn't let anybody leave the edifice. And when we asked what was happening, law enforcement said they suspected a terrorist assail, and then they wanted each person's outset and last name and their passport number. There were no terrorists in the building, they just wanted the information on the higher students, to proceeds admission to their educational establishments to start pressuring people.

Q: How did this persecution bear upon your personal and professional life?

A: I was refused jobs because I am a Protestant. I was working as a contractor on the house of a Russian parliament member (part of the Russian federation Unite party); when he found out I was a pastor at a church, he took all of my tools, kicked me out, and refused to pay me for whatever of the work I did on his house. I hired a lawyer to receive payment, but since the justice system is very much in submission to the authorities, I was found guilty.

I had a lot of trouble as a pastor. They couldn't directly make threats nigh my kids, but they would make hints near getting my kids hooked on drugs, and I felt that they were threatening both of my kids. So we made a conclusion to exit everything behind and movement. Nosotros weren't going to exam the waters anymore, we were going to apply for refugee status.

Right now, nosotros are trying to employ for my married woman's blood brother because my niece (his girl) was attention a middle school at a church and they were trying to enroll her at a public school, but they denied her entry because they didn't want kids from a Christian school. The officials made up an excuse that she was probably behind in schoolhouse, considering they are not going to outright persecute her directly. That's the fashion they operate.

Andrei and his family are settling into life in the Twin Cities. Andrei is working for himself equally a contractor, specifically remodeling bathrooms. Galina works every bit a tailor for Nordstrom.  Their children are loving life and school in America, and are quickly becoming fluent in English. Andrei and Galina's family unit has plant a domicile church in Brooklyn Park.

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