“Freedom of Consciousness and Religion: Legal Aspects” – a conference held in St. Petersburg
The opening of the conference started with a greeting from N.S Gordienko, a professor of the A.I. Gertzena Russian State Pedagogical University, U.A. Snisorenko, a partner of Center of Legal Transportation and member of Board of young academics at the St. Petersburg government, K.B Erofeev, a lawyer, and P.N Okara, the commanding bishop of the Russian Church of Evangelical faith.
The first day of the conference consisted of five plenary and seven sectional sessions. S.A Belov (associate professor of the Law Department of the St. Petersburg State University), K.B. Erofeev (lawyer), O.A. Levina (from Kiev, Ukraine), N.A. Dorshenko (from Kiev, Ukraine), D.E. Gil (from Minsk, Belorussia), A.A. Dorskaya (associate professor and director of the department of International Law of the A.I Gertzen Russian Humanitarian Pedagogical University), M.Z. Schwarz (associate professor of the Law Department of the St. Petersburg State University), T.K. Nikolksaya (professor of St. Petersburg Christian University), V.V Frolov (specialist on accreditation of educational establishments), and P.V Gordeev (auditor, director of OOO "ATV-Management"). Among the honorable guests, it is necessary to point out the director of the regional religious organization "Evangelical Christian Center: New Generation" of the Amur Region pastor M.R Darbinyana (Blagoveshensk, Russia) and the bishop of the Northwestern Union of Russian Churches of the Evangelical Faith M.V Baranov (St. Petersburg, Russia). 
During the first day, these where the themes that were looked at: "Constitutional principle of the State in connection with Freedom of Religion in Russia", "Constitutional Law on Freedom of Religion and its Defense in the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation and the European court of Human Rights", "Perspectives for the Development of Russian Legislature on Freedom of Consciousness and Religious Unions", "Freedom of Consciousness and Religion in Belorussia: Legal Aspects", "Freedom of Consciousness and Religion in Ukraine: Legal Aspects", "International Legislative Standards concerning Freedom of Consciousness and Religion", "Soviet Legislation on Cults in 1929 in a Historical Context", "Soviet Legislation on the Freedom of Consciousness during the 1950s-80s", "Law-suits on the Defense of Honor, Virtue, and Efficient Reputation", "International Citizens and Religious Organizations", "Practical Questions on the State's Accreditation of Establishments and Programs of Additional Education", "Specifics of Taxation and Accountant Records of Religious Organizations", and others.
The second day consisted of three parts.
During the second day of the conference there was an open-discussion on the topic of "Problems in Maintaining Premises of the Supremacy of the Law in the area of Freedom of Religion", on which there were spokesmen from the academic and religious networks. Participators shared their views and suggestions on the question of strengthening the principles. In the discourse, several practical steps were suggested for academic and practical activity in the area. Included, was the decision to hold such conference in 2010, creating an information portal on legal questions on freedom of religion, creating a network of lawyers that specialize in the area of freedom of religion, introduction of educational and explanatory activities, and also the need for a more active representation of the jurisdictional network in legal defense of freedom of religion in specific cases. Speakers identified their argument with the fact that a religious network should devote more attention to studying the laws and practical regulations in the area of freedom of religion, and use all the legal mechanisms for defense of freedom of religion, investing in the strengthening of the principle of supremacy of the law in area of freedom of consciousness and religion.
In closing the open-discussion, T.K Nikolskaya presented her recently published book "Russian Protestantism and State Power during 1905-1991". Nikolskaya shared a summary of her book and answered questions of the conference participants, of which, many expressed gratitude for the work she did. Pastor M.R. Darbinyan highlighted that Nikolskaya's book is a long-awaited and appreciable investment into the history of Russian Protestantism. This academic works is the first of its kind, and its significance for the ministry of Russian Protestants is great, because it opens the historical roots and complex fate of Russian Protestants in the 20th century.
Following that, there were five plenary sessions which included such speakers as N.S Gordienko, a professor of A.I Gretzen Russian State Pedagogical University, A.A. So, a graduate student of department of State and International Law of the Northwestern Academy of State Service, U.A. Snisarenko, directing partner of "Center of Transportation Legislation" and member of the Board of Directors of the young academics and specialists at the government of St. Petersburg, and K.B. Erofeev, a lawyer.
During the plenary sessions of the second day these topics were examined: "Constitutional-Law Foundations of the Equality of Religious Unions in light of the Law: Modern problems and Possible Solutions", "Independent Legal Expertise of the Instrument of Defense of Freedom of Consciousness and Religion", "State Control of the Activities of Religious Organizations: Implementation and ways of Defense", and others.
An interesting report was given by N.S Gordienko, professor of A.I Gertzen Russian State Pedagogical Universty, titled "Philosophical Comprehension of the Freedom of Consciousness and Methods of its Implementation in Modern Russia". Gordienko highlighted the need that every confession carries out the freedom of consciousness and religion not only out of self-interest, but also in the interest of other confessions, society, and the state.
Concluding the conference, many words of gratitude were heard from representatives of the academic and religious networks, from participants of the conference, and from the organizers of the conference. Also, the holding of such conference in St. Petersburg in 2010 was announced. All the participating guests received certificates in memory of the conference.
Organizers of the conferences mentioned that all would like to receive materials presented at the conference could request it with an e-mail sent to: nptlc@mail.ru.