State and Religion in Post-Soviet Countries

Abstract

The article studies and analyzes the relationship between the state and religion in post-Soviet countries. In particular, it shows the different levels and indicators of SER (state involvement in religion) in various post-Soviet countries, a certain level of cooperation and subsidies towards individual religious groups and churches; it presents countries where the state is intensively involved in the internal affairs of religion and its corresponding church and has a firm policy; it analyzes the heavy communist legacy towards religion and the church in post-Soviet countries, their persecution and banning, the closure of religious schools and the destruction and reconstruction of churches and mosques, the policy of religious liberalism under Gorbachev's perestroika, which contributed to the growth of religious activity, the rapprochement of national movements and the church, and ultimately, the collapse of the Soviet Union. Three levels of state involvement concerning religion are also analyzed: low (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), Ukraine, medium (Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Moldova), and high (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus).