Now, it is debatable whether or not this approach is effective. Another form of public protest involves challenging the new law before the Russian Constitutional Court. It would be uncharacteristic for it to do so. Regardless, a court case would provide the opportunity to underscore the law's glaring violation of the Russian Constitution and various international treaties to which Russia is a signator. Ninety are needed and, given the huge margin of victory for the religion law, that may be more Duma members than can be convinced to sponsor a court challenge.
More ministries appear inclined to accommodate than to protest too openly.
To date, proceeding as usual has been the rule for most, albeit with a lower profile. While the law, on paper, makes life extremely difficult, if not impossible, for many Western groups, life goes on, and the difference between the letter of the law and the present lack of widespread enforcement just underscores again the contradictions and complexity of Russian life. Most groups, however, do expect the law to grow teeth sooner or later, and, consequently, are considering various forms of accommodation. Accommodation in the form of quiet submission to bribery likely will accentuate the unevenness of enforcement across 11 time zones. Missionary payments to officials to expedite all manner of transactions and permissions appear to have been fairly commonplace before the new law.