SIMFEROPOL: RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES ACCUSE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES PREACHING IN STREET OF UNSANCTIONED PICKETING
Representatives of the Russian police in Simferopol (Crimea) drew up eight reports on 2 July against Jehovah's Witnesses of violation by the organizer of a public event of the established procedure for conducting it (on the basis of part 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Violations of Law, which provides for punishment in the form of required labor of up to 40 hours or a fine of up to 20,000 rubles) while performing their traditional street witnessing. This was reported by the news agency Kryminform, with reference to the press service of the local police.
The news agency was told by an unnamed source in law enforcement agencies that Jehovah's Witnesses stood two-by-two at stands containing religious literature in various spots in the city, and they were brought to account "within the framework of a raid."
One month ago, the Crimean congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses underwent reregistration in the district directorate of the Russian Ministry of Justice, which had declared its jurisdiction over Crimea and Sevastopol, which have been annexed. (tr. by PDS, posted 6 July 2015)
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