Washington condemned on Wednesday a Moscow court's verdict to outlaw the FBK, saying it was not the first time Russia "labeled groups 'extremist' in order to stigmatize supporters and justify abuses against them." The department further cited another court ruling designating Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2017 as an extremist organization.
"This is an amazing statement ... Note that it was not the Russian Foreign Ministry that compared the two sects. And this was, so to speak, a message of our American partners, who directly drew parallels between these two structures and compared the reaction of Russia and their activities ... I believe that this will go down in history," Zakharova told the Vesti FM radio station, calling it an unprecedented comparison.
The diplomat went on to say that drawing parallels between the two structures was to equate them in the public, noting that Moscow will not forget Washington's "succinct and very clear comparison."