THREE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ACCUSED OF EXTREMISM IN STAVROPOL
Kavkazskii Uzel, 17 February 2022
Investigators accused three Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk of participating in the activity of an extremist organization and in its financing. The case has been sent to a court.
According to the account of the investigation, in the home of a married couple in Georgievsk, a friend convened and conducted meetings, during which he and the owner of the residence "discussed with attendees religious intolerance toward representatives of other confessions, promoted the superiority of the teachings of their organization over other religions," and also studied forbidden literature. Investigators allege that the accused also collected money for financing the organization, and the couple involved their minor-aged daughter in the activity of the organization.
The three residents of Georgievsk were charged, depending upon their role and the degree of participation, with arranging and participating in the activity of an extremist organization (part 1 and part 2 of article 282.2 CC RF), financing extremist activity (part 1 of article 282.3 CC RF), failure to fulfill parental duties (article 156 CC RF), and drawing a person into the activity of an extremist organization (part 1.1 of article 282.2 CC RF), the website of the investigation department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Stavropol reports.
The sanctions of these articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provide for a maximum punishment in the form of ten years imprisonment.
The criminal case was sent to a court for consideration on the merits, the investigation added.
Which religious organization was being referred to is not indicated in the report. However, according to information of a source in law enforcement agencies, the meetings in Georgievsk were conducted by Jehovah's Witnesses, Kommersant-South reports. This information is also reported by Interfax-South, citing its own source. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 February 2022)
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