Definition: Council on the Matters of the Religious Cults

The Council on the Matters of the Religious Cults at the Council of Ministers of the USSR was established on 19 May, 1944. The council controlled relations between the state and various religious unions (except for the Russian Orthodox Church), elaborated legislation on religious matters and supervised its implementation by religious unions, registered religious communities and clergy, opened/closed religious facilities. In 1965 the Council was united with the Council on the matters of the Russian Orthodox Church (established on 14 September, 1943) in the Council on the Matters of Religion at the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The Council operated through its commissioners at the republican and regional level.