According to a representative of the Baptist World Alliance in McLean, Virginia, following the independence of Moldova in 1991, Baptist churches, formerly affiliated with the Moscow-based All Union Council of Baptists, have joined the newly created Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Moldova (17 Sept. 1993).

According to the Country Reports 1992, although the 1992 law on religion guarantees freedom of religious practice, it does prohibit proselytism, a restriction that may concern some Protestant denominations (1992, 851). For information on the general tenets of Baptists churches, please refer to the attached document.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Baptist World Alliance, McLean, Virginia. 17 September 1993. Telephone interview with representative.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1992. 1993. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

The Encyclopedia of Religion. 1987. Vol. 2. Edited by Mircea Eliade. New York: MacMillan Publishing Company, pp. 63-66.