RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Informant's report leads to fine of Jehovah's Witness

LEADER OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CONGREGATION IN KYZYL FINED FOR CONDUCTING MEETING

SOVA Center for News and Analysis, 3 May 2017

 

The head of a local religious organization was punished for conducting a meeting after the suspension of its activity.

 

On 3 May 2017, the MVD for the republic of Tuva reported that on 19 April 2017, a magistrate judge of court district No. 2 of Kyzyl found the leader of a local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses guilty of committing an administrative violation of law, provided for by part 1 of article 20.28 of the Code of Administrative Violations of Law (organizing the activity of a religious association with respect to which a decision has been made to suspend its activity). He was fined 1,000 rubles.

 

The ministry reports that on 5 April a telephone report came into the dispatch center of the city directorate of the MVD, which said that on Churgui-oola St. in Kyzyl "people are meeting and discussing religious topics and also are discussing the topic of the possible end of the world." Personnel of law enforcement agencies established that the premises belong to the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses of the city of Kyzyl.

 

The activity of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses and the rights of local religious organizations that are members of its structure were suspended by the Russian Ministry of Justice on 15 March 2017 in connection with the submission of a lawsuit for its liquidation in the Supreme Court. Later, on 20 April, this lawsuit was granted.

 

From our point of view, the liquidation of Jehovah's Witnesses organizations for extremism, prosecution of their members, and prohibition of their texts do not have legal grounds and are a clear manifestation of religious discrimination. (tr. by PDS, posted 3 May 2017)


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