A Protestant pastor has become the first person to be deported under anti-terror laws which introduced sanctions against ‘foreigners conducting missionary activity’, it was reported in early March.
Pastor Victor-Immanuel Mani has been separated from his Russian wife and young child. He is appealing the deportation.
The implementation of the restrictions on what is termed ‘missionary activity’ remain confused at a local level; although they do not prohibit personal evangelism, churches and church leaders have faced charges and a church pastor was the first person prosecuted. Of the 53 prosecutions brought by authorities so far, 29 have been against Christians.
