JEHOVAH'S WITNESS ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL EVANGELISM IN OREL PROVINCE
SOVA Center for News and Analysis, 18 May 2017
On 18 May 2017 it was reported that a resident of the village of Kotovo, Uritskii district of Orel province, Artur Putintsev, is accused on the basis of part 4 of article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Violations of Law of the RF (violation of legislation on freedom of conscience, freedom of religious confession, and on religious associations). Police arrested him during field work. They maintain that A. Putintsev conducted missionary activity in his village, distributing literature of the Jehovah's Witnesses. While fellow villagers testify that he did not distribute any literature and he did not invite them to services.
At the time of the arrest, a minor acquaintance was standing next to Putintsev. The parents took the teenager away.
After the arrest, A. Putintsev was taken to the police department where a tablet was taken from him, apparently hoping to find Jehovah's Witnesses' materials there. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 May 2017)
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