The daily Gazeta reported today that Russia's justice ministry plans to "liquidate" 56 religious organisations for failing to inform authorities of their activities.

"There is no community of the Russian Orthodox Church on the list," the Russian newspaper noted in reference to the dominant religion in the country.

Published on the justice ministry's website, the list includes 56 organisations against which the ministry "plans to lodge requests for liquidation."

The website does not give reasons for the decision but, according to the Gazeta, authorities accuse them of failing to submit annual reports, as required by controversial legislation on non-governmental organisations.

Among the NGOs targeted by the ministry was a branch of the Catholic organisation Caritas International in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk,
and several evangelical and Muslim groups.
  
Sapa-AFP