RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


New approach to combating Jehovah's Witnesses devised

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN IVANOV FINED 100,000 RUBLES FOR ENDANGERMENT

Chastnik.ru (date unspecified--20 May 2016?)

 

In Ivanovo province, as the result of a prosecutorial inspection, a religious organization that endangered the life and health of a great number of people was held administratively accountable.

 

The prosecutor's office of the October district of the city of Ivanovo conducted a verification of compliance with legislation regarding fire safety and combating terrorism.

 

It was established that the building at the address Ivanovo, Timiriazev St., Building 55, in which the activity of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Ivanovo is conducted, is designated as premises for conducting religious meetings, according to excerpts from the Universal State Registry of the Rights to Immovable Property.

 

In the building with four rooms there is a great number of benches for the possibility of mass attendance of events or meetings organized by the named organization. The building can accommodate more than 50 persons at one time.

 

According to current legislation, in the event of the possibility of accommodating simultaneously in a building more than 50 persons, the organization must develop and coordinate with agencies of local administration and other organizations a passport for antiterrorist protection.

 

Meanwhile, such a document was not produced and approved by the leadership of the organization.

 

The aforesaid inaction places under threat the life and health of persons who are in the premises of the religious organization, including the possibility of holding religious meetings and gatherings.

 

As a result of the inspection, the prosecutor's office of the district opened a case on part 1 of article 206 of the RF Code of Administrative Violations of Law (noncompliance of the requirements of standards and rules for preventing and eliminating emergencies) which was sent for consideration by a municipal judge of the October judicial district of the city of Ivanovo.

 

On the basis of results of the review of materials of the case, the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Ivanovo was held administratively accountable in the form of a fine of 100,000 rubles.

 

The ruling has not taken legal effect.

 

In addition, the inspection showed that at the indicated address various furniture of the technological equipment (heating unit) was in violation of the requirements of the fire prevention legislation.

 

On the basis of this information, the prosecutor's office of the district opened a case on part 1 of article 20.4 of the Russian Code of Administrative Violations of Law (violation of requirements of fire safety), which was sent for consideration to the department of monitoring of activity of civil organizations of the chief directorate for Ivanovo of the Russian Ministry for Affairs of Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters for Ivanovo province.

 

On the basis of the review of the case, the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Ivanovo was held administratively accountable in the form of a warning. The prosecutor's office of Ivanovo province specified that the ruling has taken legal effect. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2016)

 

 


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