WASHINGTON—The State Department on Thursday condemned Russian authorities’ escalating repression against Falun Gong after a Moscow court sentenced a practitioner of the faith group to four years in prison.
“The United States condemns the Russian government’s actions targeting and repressing members of religious minorities, including Falun Gong practitioners,” a State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
“We urge Russia to respect the right of all to exercise the freedom of religion or belief. All religious minorities should be able to enjoy freedom of religion and assembly without interference.”
A Moscow court a day earlier sentenced 47-year-old Natalya Minenkova to four years in prison for her role in a local Falun Gong organization, which had been declared “undesirable” under a controversial 2015 law that critics say has allowed for politically motivated prosecutions targeting international nonprofits….