INTERRELIGIOUS STRUCTURES IN THE POST-SOVIET SPACE
The article describes the history of interreligious structures in the former Soviet Union and proposes their classification by the type of incoming organizations, geography of their activity and status. To date, interreligious and interreligious-interfaith councils or committees have been established in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and they are also planned to be established in Kyrgyzstan. A key role among them is played by the Interreligious Council of Russia, which has been operating since 1998 and already includes eight of the largest religious communities in Russia. In 2004, on the initiative of its leaders supported by the leader of the Muslims of Transcaucasia Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pasha-zadeh, the Interreligious Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States was established. Interreligious and interfaith councils have become important instruments of popular diplomacy in the past and continue to be relevant today.