Every proselytizing religion closely monitors the laws and social conditions of countries where they desire to spread their infection, I mean teachings. The DarkTower is no different, and it is a certainty that they have had dedicated resources and intense discussions about these issues for decades.
Having said that, the DarkLords were without a doubt keenly aware that Russia enacted its extremism law in 2002, just months after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the US. Two of the law's provisions defined religious extremism as promoting the "exclusivity, superiority, or lack of equal worth of an individual" and "incitement of religious discord" in connection with acts or threats of violence.
Officials began to interpret the first provision as promoting the superiority of a belief, and in 2007, Russia amended the law to allow prosecution for inciting religious discord even in the absence of any threat or act of violence.
Again, the DarkLords clearly understood these laws and their interpretations.
Since every group believes its own dogma to be in some sense superior, any group could face an extremism charge. And since inciting "religious discord" is no longer linked to advocating or perpetrating violence, those advocating religious views face potential criminal charges of incitement. Other religious groups wishing to practice openly in Russia either don’t have these teachings as part of their religious dogma or they have removed them from materials distributed and teachings preached openly in Russia. In other words, they complied with the law.
The DarkTower is NOT the only religion that has felt the effects of these laws. Islam (one Russian court even banned the Koran, but it was overturned on appeal), Mormons and others have come under scrutiny and felt the pressures of these laws. But the DarkLords are the ONLY religion that refused to remove the illegal references from their written materials and teachings until they had seriously pissed off Vlad and his Impalers. I am not including Scientology in this.
Bad things happen when you tug on Vlad's cape.
None of us should be shocked that Russia is being Russia. The DarkLords knew this as well. Using draconian practices to make their case, if true, should not surprise us, and IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SURPRISED THE DARK LORDS. Aren’t they supposed to be faithful and ‘discreet’ or ‘wise?’
The DarkLords’ arrogance is the cause of this, and they were willing to martyr their own sheep to prove their point. Stephanie (above) hit the nail on the head as to the very good reasons Russia has enacted and enforces these laws.
They deserve none of our sympathy.