In a statement, the Russian embassy in Washington denied accusations by the US State Department of “the existence of systematic and massive violations of religious rights in Russia.”

The embassy said that “the United States has raised sectarian tensions and conflicts in the countries of the Middle East, North Africa and the former Yugoslavia because of its geopolitical interests, explaining that” such actions have always caused conflicts and the fall of a large number of victims. .”

And she believed that “the traditional reprimands contained in the annual American report on religious freedom in the world are the brazen attribution of characteristics to objectionable countries in order to find an excuse to interfere in their internal affairs.”

She stated that “Russia was originally formed as a multinational and multi-confessional state, and Russians tend to build relationships of mutual respect and tolerance with representatives of different nationalities and religions”, noting that “protecting the rights of citizens is our absolute priority, and for us there is no religious persecution” .