This is stated in the statement of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on freedom of religion.

Along with Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Cuba, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan were also included in the list of countries of concern.

All of them "participated in or tolerated particularly harsh restrictions on freedom of religion" or implemented such restrictions of their own free will.

In doing so, they violated the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, Blinken said.

Wagner PMC is causing concern in the US due to its activities in the Central African Republic.

The list also includes a number of organizations recognized as terrorist in a number of countries, including the Islamic State, Boko Haram, and the Taliban.

"We will continue to closely monitor the state of religious freedom in every country of the world and stand up for those who face religious persecution or discrimination," Blinken promised.

He added that US representatives are ready to meet with the governments of the countries on the list to help them comply with international rules and standards.

  • The international religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses, which has more than 8 million followers worldwide, was recognized as extremist and banned on the territory of Russia in April 2017.

    After 5 years, according to lawyers' calculations, more than 480 "Jehovah's Witnesses" are on the Russian list of extremists, more than 290 criminal cases have been opened for participation in religious activities.

  • After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, hundreds of Crimean Tatars were criminally prosecuted for their participation in the Hizb ut-Tahrir religious movement.

    Dozens of them have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, the rest are awaiting trial.

    The Hizb ut-Tahrir movement has been banned in Russia since 2003.

    Its activity is legal on the territory of Ukraine and most European countries.

    Members of the movement were never seen preparing or committing terrorist attacks.

  • The Russian armed group "PMK Wagner" is fighting in Ukraine, Syria and African countries.

    Fighters of the group are suspected of committing numerous war crimes.

    The day before, a bill was submitted to the US Senate to recognize "Vagner PMC" as a foreign terrorist organization.