CRIMINAL CASE OPENED AGAINST LOCAL RESIDENTS SUSPECTED OF PLANNING ACTIVITY OF EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION AND ITS FINANCING IN KIROV OBLAST
Website of Investigation Department of SKRF for Kirov oblast, 9 October 2018
The first department for the investigation of especially important cases of the Investigation Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation [SKRF] for Kirov oblast opened a criminal case on the basis of indications of crimes specified in part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the RF (planning the activity of a religious association with regard to which a court has made a decision that has taken legal effect for its liquidation because of the conduct of extremist activity), and part 1 of article 282.3 of CC RF (financing extremist activity).
As the result of carefully planned and organized investigative actions and operational search events, it was established that five residents of Kirov oblast participated, who are in detention at the present time.
The aforesaid crime was discovered by operative personnel of the Center for Combating Extremism of the Russian UMVD for Kirov oblast.
It was established that the decision of the Russian Supreme Court of 20 April 2017, which has taken legal effect, prohibited the activity of the religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia." According to information of the investigation, the accused, knowing reliably about this, in the period from 16 August 2017 to 29 September 2018, having the intention to arrange the continuation of the activity of the aforementioned organization and to disseminate its ideology on the territory of the city of Kirov and Kirov oblast, and employing methods of conspiracy, planned meetings of adherents and members of the aforesaid association in various apartments, employing actions that are characteristic for said association, expressed in group singing of biblical songs, perfecting skills of conducting missionary activity, and studying religious literature and the so-called 'Sacred Scripture' (Bible) that are included in the Federal List of Extremist Materials, containing the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses.
In addition, the perpetrators conducted activity related to the financing and support of the activity of said extremist organization by means of collection of cash totaling more than 500 thousand rubles from adherents of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Kirov and its distribution among leaders of said organization for paying the expenses of rental of living and other premises for conducting meetings with members of the organization and purchasing and maintaining computer technology, and also for transferring them to leaders of the religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia."
Within the context of the criminal case that has been opened, the Investigative Committee of Russia for Kirov oblast conducted searches at the place of residents of the perpetrators on the territory of the city of Kirov in order to seize documents and objects pertinent to the criminal case and also for identifying other persons who participated in illegal activity. In the course of conducting the searches, a great quantity of literature of an extremist nature, data storage equipment, and also two grenades and mines were confiscated.
At the present time, investigative and
operational search
events are being conducted, aimed at assembling and strengthening
the
evidentiary base. Charges have been brought against the
defendants. (tr. by
PDS, posted 9 October 2018)
FOUR PERSONS ARRESTED IN NEW CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN KIROV
Searches in homes of citizens aged from 25 to 65 years, accused of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, were conducted on 9 October in Kirov. At least four of them were arrested. At the same time, on the official website of the SU SKRF for Kirov oblast it was alleged that supposedly during the searches "2 grenades and mines" were confiscated, which in the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses is considered to be absolutely "inconceivable": "Jehovah's Witnesses do not bear arms for reasons of conscience. For this position, at various times and in various countries, they have been brought before tribunals and gone to concentration camps. For this reason, mention of the supposed seizure from believers of munitions seems to be blasphemous and may be evidence of a crude frame-up. . . ." (tr. by PDS, posted 9 October 2018)
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