Keeping tabs

Russia | Clamping down on “foreign” influences, the Kremlin forces churches to report attendance and even cash donations | Priya Abraham

If Americans have to file their federal tax returns by April 15, the spring date is also gaining infamy among churches in Russia. For them, it is the day next year they have to account for their activities. Except now, the rules just became harder.

Churches have to report to the government who gave them money for offerings, down to cash in the collection plate. They must also list who attended services, including events such as baptisms and weddings. The requirements create so much red tape, evangelical and other religious minority groups worry they will not be able to cope.

"Can you imagine that this law prescribes on a monthly basis that [churches] should count donations from different people?" said Igor Malin, a Baptist pastor from the city of Nizhny-Novgorod. "This is basically impossible to do because the banking system is not working and people give cash."