
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 15, 1993                   TAG: 9307150207
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MOSCOW                                LENGTH: Short

RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS SEEK BAN ON MISSIONARIES

Russian lawmakers voted Wednesday to ban foreign missionaries from proselytizing on Russian soil, a move one critical lawmaker said was aimed at American evangelist Billy Graham.

The amendment to Russia's law on freedom of religion applies specifically to foreigners and bans missionary work, publishing, business deals and advertising, the Interfax news agency reported.

The measure, which needs President Boris Yeltsin's approval before becoming law, requires foreign religious groups to become affiliated with Russian churches or organizations or to obtain state accreditation, Interfax said. It was not immediately clear what penalty the law would impose.

The move was strongly backed by the Russian Orthodox Church. - Associated Press

by CNB