JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CONGREGATION IN ABAKAN FINED 150,000 RUBLES
SOVA Center for News and Analysis, 21 June 2016
An Abakan city court found the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses guilty of distributing extremist literature.
On 16 June 2016 the Abakan city court of the republic of Khakassia fined the local South Abakan religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses 150,000 rubles, after ruling it guilty of mass distribution of extremist materials (article 20.29 of the Code of Administrative Violations of Law). The court's decision still has not taken legal effect and it may be appealed.
It has been reported that publications banned in 2009-2010 and included in the Federal List of Extremist Materials—brochures "What does the Bible really teach?", "Humanity in search of God," and "Knowledge that leads to eternal life"—were confiscated from Jehovah's Witnesses.
We consider the ban of literature of the Jehovah's Witnesses as extremist and prosecution of believers for its distribution to be illegal. Such actions by the authorities we regard as religious discrimination. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 July 2016)
Sources:
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES PUNISHED FOR EXTREMIST LITERATURE IN KHAKASSIA
In Khakassia, a religious organization was found guilty of distributing extremist materials. On 16 June an Abakan city court issued such a ruling with respect to the South Abakan local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Published literature was confiscated for linguistic expert analysis and found to be extremist. In addition, the printed production is included in the federal list of prohibited publications.
The South Abakan Jehovah's Witnesses were given a punishment of a fine in the sum of 150,000 rubles. But as the press service of the Abakan city court explained to a correspondent of the news agency Khakassia, the decision rendered is not final. The Jehovists retain the right of appeal. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 June 2016)
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES TO PAY 150,000 RUBLES FOR EXTREMIST LITERATURE IN KHAKASSIA
Khakasia (Daily Republican Edition), 22 June 2016
In the opinion of the court, brochures that devotees of the teaching carried around apartments and handed out on the streets inflame religious hatred.
Yesterday an Abakan city court fined the local South Abakan religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses a hefty sum. The Jehovists must pay 150,000 rubles for their handouts. As the capital court reported, the brochures "What does the Bible teach?", "Humanity in search for God" and "Knowledge that leads to eternity" were ruled extremist back in 2009 by the Rostov provincial court. The court was guided by information of a linguistic expert analysis. Distribution of such materials on the territory of Russia is strictly forbidden.
"The printed production is included in the federal list of forbidden publications," the press service of the Abakan city court explained. "The religious organization was fined in accordance with article 20.29 of the Code of Administrative Violations of Law of the RF (Production and distribution of extremist materials)". (tr. by PDS, posted 1 June 2016)
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