[varmintman]

Even if you’re right, which I seriously doubt, and Russia under Putin has only ever tried to protect Orthodox Christians, that would be one more Christian denomination than the United States has tried to protect over the past quarter century, wouldn’t it?

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

It is arguable that the Russian Orthodox church (ROc), like the Roman church, is not Christian, but that is a discussion for a different article. Putin, the consummate political strongman, ensures that those who supported him and his KGB (because they WERE KGB), get favours, like the repression of churches other than the ROc. For centuries before the USSR, the ROc traditionally followed the orders of the Tsar, why would they be any different now?

I have friends who have been involved in an evangelical church plant in Ukraine. They had tried Russia for several years, but were harassed by the FSB and finally closed by them. They went to Kyev and have found it is a better situation. While there are obstacles set up by the various Ukrainian Orthodox churches, they can still practice their faith and evangelise.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

The level of attack by government authorities is still greater in Russia than the US or Canada.