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Jehovah's Witnesses' literature delayed at Customs

VYBORG CUSTOMS PERMITS JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' LITERTURE ENTRY INTO RUSSIA
Religiia v svetskom obshchestve, 13 November 2009

On 11 November, the Vyborg customs of Leningrad province rescinded its prohibition on the import of literature that earlier had been seized, which was intended for the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

In making the decision about the prohibition, the customs was guided by the sentence of a Rostov provincial court finding Jehovah's Witnesses' literature extremist. After the Administrative Center presented proof that the sentence was being appealed to the Supreme Court of the Russian federation, and had not taken effect yet, customs sent an inquiry to the Rostov provincial court. After receiving confirmation, customs permitted all of the detained books, except one publication, to enter Russia.

PRESS RELEASE OF ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN RUSSIA,
13 November 2009

On 11 November printed materials of religious contents intended for the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" religious organization were permitted importation into the territory of Russia by Customs in the city of Vyborg, Leningrad province.

In was previously reported that on 6 October Vyborg Customs seized a batch of Jehovah's Witnesses' literature on the basis that it "possibly contained features that were intended to incite religious strife." After this, on 22 October Customs issued an order appointing a artistic expert analysis of all the literature in this batch. On 26 October, without awaiting results of the expert analysis, Customs sent an unsolicited letter to the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, which stated that "the goods are forbidden to be released," which means that it is "necessary to take actions intended to export the goods" from the country within three days.  The material was not shipped out of the country because of the baselessness of the demans, which will be appealed to Arbitration Court in the city of St. Petersburg.

In a letter of 29 October, Vyborg Customs reported the following:  "In accordance with the decision of the Rostov provincial court of 11 September 2009, it was established that it is impossible for Customs to issue a freight declaration for the literature by reason of the publication 'Come, follow me' having been declared to be extremist material." The Jehovah's Witnesses presented proof that the decision of the court had not taken effect and is being appealed to the Supreme Court of the Russian federation. Customs sent its own inquiry to the Rostov provincial court in order to confirm this. On 11 November, more than a month later, all the literature, except for one publication, was permitted entry by Customs onto the territory of the Russian federation.

In addition, during this time two batches of Bibles and other Jehovah's Witnesses' literature were imported without hindrance by St. Petersburg Customs. We hope that future batches of printed materials of religious contents will be admitted to the country without hindrance.  (tr. by PDS, posted 16 November 2009)

Russian original posted on site of Religiia v svetskom obshchestve, 13 November 2009

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Jehovah's Witnesses appeal to Russian president

To: D.A. Medvedev, President of Russian federation

Esteemed Dmitry Anatolievich

After the release of the significant article "Russia, Forward!" we are moved to call your attention to the threatening situation arising with regard to more than 160,000 Russians who profess the religion of the Jehovah's Witnesses, in which, as in a mirror, were reflected critical problems of contemporary Russia.

The history of our religion in Russia comprises more than 100 years. Of these, for 50 years believers were subjected to cruel persecutions. But even in that sordid time atheist scholars came to two unquestioned conclusions that are clearly formulated in contemporary references for religious studies:  Jehovah's Witnesses (1) are Christians whose convictions are based on the Bible, and (2) are law-abiding citizens, since submission "to the higher powers" is an integral part of their religious convictions and practice (Bible, Romans 13.14).

Eighteen years ago we were rehabilitated as victims of political repressions and enjoyed freedom in order that by our example, biblical preaching, and the written word we could help tens and even hundreds of thousands of people to receive hope, to be delivered from slavery to alcohol and drugs, to pull families together, and to protect children from dangers. Some of the people became Jehovah's Witnesses, and some did not. Indeed, we have our own firm religious views, based on the Bible, which we openly profess and which can be distinguished from views of other confessions. However we do not impose our beliefs and we do not violate the law, and we respect the rights of others. We are sure that our position and conduct fully correspond to the representations of civil society that you wish to construct in Russia.

But it is becoming ever more difficult to defend our liberty here. As in soviet times, around the Witnesses there has been fomented a xenophobic hysteria that influential state agencies have been drawn into. The national Russian news media have taken up the "demonization" of believers. In the opinion of rights advocates, scholars, and officials, law enforcement structures and the media have been fulfilling the confessional decree of some influential people aimed at the infringement of freedom of conscience. These people dream of returning the country to those times when adherence to a different faith was considered a crime. Without a moment's hesitation they are prepared to cast Russia into 200th place in the civilized world, since of 236 countries and territories of the world where Jehovah's Witnesses live, their freedom of conscience is restricted in only 25 [sic], which are famous for the crudest violations of human rights. However your article "Russia, Forward!" gives us reason to hope that these people will not have success in contemporary Russia.

Many courts, often despite pressure, have rendered decisions in favor of the Witnesses. The Supreme Court of Russia alone, in recent years, has defended our activity 8 times. Nevertheless, the mechanism of judicial protection still remains of little effect. After suffering defeat in some regions, the enemies of religious freedom find ruling judges in others, since today any regional court can, by exploiting the ambiguity of the legislation, declare practically any publications "extremist." Thus, according to the representation of the prosecutors of Gorno-Altaisk and Taganrog, in September-October 2009 courts rendered decisions entering more than 50 named liturgical publications of the Jehovah's Witnesses into the federal list of extremist materials, despite the fact that they are freely distributed in 500 languages throughout the world, including all European countries.

Without waiting for these decisions to take legal effect, state agencies have been conducting raids and searches in religious buildings and private homes, they have been arresting, interrogating, and fingerprinting believers, confiscating books, seizing batches of religious literature and interrupting worship services, in violation of international obligations that Russia has undertaken, including the recent decision of the European Court for Human Rights. These people do not worry about Russia's reputation. We have received information that hostile elements, appealing to news media information, have threatened our fellow believers and beaten them. The situation gets worse day by day. They are not interested in peace and concord; they are ready to sow hatred and anger everywhere.

Esteemed Dmitry Anatolievich!

Considering what we have said, we ask you to use your high post as guarantor of the constitution of Russia to protect our rights and liberties. We ask you to guarantee the constitutional principle of the secularity of the state, to protect us from bureaucratic arbitrariness, and to mount an effective judicial defense. We are sure that these requests correspond to the wishes of all honest and law-abiding citizens of Russia. The basic rights, for which Jehovah's Witnesses are fighting today, are vitally necessary for the maintenance in Russia of democratic liberties and the construction of civil society, and for moving forward.

On our part, following biblical commands, we shall strive "to raise prayers, requests, petitions, and thanksgiving for all kinds of people, for kings and all those occupying high positions, so that in the future also we shall lead quiet and peaceful lives in full devotion to God and sobriety" (1 Timothy 2.1,2).

With profound respect,
V.M. Kalin,
Chairman of the Directing Committee of the "Adminstrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" religious organization

11 November 2009

(tr. by PDS, posted 12 November 2009)

Russian original posted on site of Slavic Legal Center, 12 November 2009

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