Fedor Arkhipov

This research analyzes the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation concerning religious freedom and state–confessional relations. It examines how constitutional interpretation has tended to privilege the Russian Orthodox Church and other recognized “traditional” religions, while placing greater restrictions on non-traditional religious groups. As a result, legal equality among religious communities remains largely formal, as mechanisms of regulation and enforcement contribute to the preservation of existing asymmetries.

Furthermore, the Russian Orthodox Church is analyzed not merely as a beneficiary of this legal framework, but also as an active participant in its formation, influencing the development of constitutional and legal approaches to religion in contemporary Russia. The research therefore highlights the role of the Church as an important actor in shaping contemporary Russian confessional policy.