New Legislation on Religion

Abstract

The change in policy on religion meant that Soviet legislation became an anachronism. Independently minded believers of various denominations, with the Orthodox in the forefront, had been calling for radical changes to the law since the mid-1960s. At last the call was taken up in the Soviet Congress of Peoples’ Deputies. For several years there had been rumours, and occasional comments by Soviet spokesmen, to the effect that the law on religion was under review. Frustration and scepticism among believers grew when nothing was published.