ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES RECEIVES WARNING FROM PROSECUTOR GENERAL
SOVA Center for News and Analysis, 12 April 2016
The office of the prosecutor general warned the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia regarding the impermissibility of extremist activity.
On 12 April 2016 the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia reported that it received a warning regarding the impermissibility of carrying out extremist activity. The document is dated 2 March 2016 and signed by a deputy of the Russian prosecutor general, Viktor Grin.
The religious organization points out that the warning characterizes its activity as extremist and prescribes removal of all identified violations within two months. According to the federal law "On combating extremist activity," in the event that a warning is not appealed and the violations are not eliminated, or if new signs of extremism are discovered in the activity of the organization, the organization is liable for liquidation.
At the present time, local religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taganrog, Samara, and Abinsk of Krasnodar territory have been deemed extremist in Russia while in Taganrog, sixteen Jehovah's Witnesses were convicted for continuing activity of the congregation. Decisions for the liquidation of congregations in Belgorod and Stary Oskol have also been issued.
We view attempts at liquidation of Jehovah's Witnesses organizations for extremism, prosecution of members of their congregations, and prohibition of texts as religious discrimination. (tr. by PDS, posted 12 April 2016)
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