PREVENTION MEASURES EXTENDED FOR DETAINED JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CHARGED WITH PARTICIPATING IN FORBIDDEN ORGANIZATION
The Lenin district court of Orenburg extended the measures for prevention by one month for detained Jehovah's Witnesses in Orenburg oblast, who are charged with preparing and financing the organization "Board of Jehovah's Witnesses," which is prohibited in Russia. Two of them will be in an investigative cell and another one under house arrest until 12 August.
This was described for Echo by an attorney for the detainees, Egiazar Chernikov. He said that they are trying to appeal this decision.
We recall that nine residents of Orenburg oblast were suspected of participating in, preparing, and financing the activity of the "Board of Jehovah's Witnesses," which is banned in Russia. According to the investigation's account, the suspects drew new members into the group. One of them allegedly financed extremist activity and the money was transferred to the parent organization.
The detainees do not consider themselves guilty and they maintain that they simply prayed and read the Bible together. Earlier, the Council on Human Rights appealed to the prosecutor's office requesting verification of the validity for prosecuting Jehovah's Witness detainees. (tr. by PDS, posted 24 July 2018)
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