RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Imprisoned Jehovah's Witness set free after 8-day detention

COURT RELEASES FROM CUSTODY SOCHI JEHOVAH'S WITNESS DETAINED BECAUSE OF HIS RELIGIOUS CONFESSION

Portal-Credo.Ru, 20 September 2017

 

A 32-year-old resident of Sochi, Sergei Isaev, who was arrested because of his religious confession, returned on 15 September to his family after an eight-day detention in custody on a charge of disobedience to police officers. The European Association of Christian Jehovah's Witnesses states that after Isaev's arrest, law enforcement personnel put pressure on a local teenager so that he would give false testimony against Isaev.

 

Sergei Isaev was arrested at a foot bridge over the Khosta River during a stroll with a friend of the family, 16-year-old Arseny U., on the basis of a statement of a casual passer-by who recognized them as Jehovah's Witnesses. The men were escorted to the police station where they were questioned and searched by F.S.B. Major Sergei Mutsko. The teenager was released, but Sergei Isaev was detained for 10 days on a charge of disobeying police officers.

 

The next day, 16-year-old Arseny and his mother were summoned to the F.S.B. Major Mutsko demanded that Arseny sign a prepared testimony against Isaev, but the teenager refused to sign anything.

 

During an appeal hearing, a Krasnodar territorial court was presented a recording from a surveillance camera on which it is clearly visible that Sergei Isaev accompanied the police officers on their demand without any resistance. As a result, the court ordered the release of Sergei Isaev. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 September 2017)


Background article:
Two Jehovah's Witnesses arrested for taking a walk
September 8, 2017

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