CITIZENS THOUGHT TO BE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARRESTED ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY IN FOUR RUSSIAN REGIONS
Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 20 April 2018
In Bashkiria, Murmansk oblast, the Primorsky territory, and Ivanovo oblast a series of searches in homes of citizens, who are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, were held on 10, 18, 19, and 20 April 2018. Four citizens were arrested.
On 10 April 2018 in the city of Ufa, eight searches were conducted simultaneously. Appeals were filed in the Supreme Court of the republic of Bashkortostan against the order for the searches. One of the citizens, a 32-year-old man, was arrested and is held in the SIZO until 2 June 2018.
On the evening of 18 April 2018, in the city of Polyarny (Murmansk oblast) [searches were conducted--?] in residences of local citizens. Two citizens, men of 44 and 61 years of age, who were seen in the police department, have not had communication. Presumably they were arrested.
On 19 April 2018, personnel of law enforcement agencies burst into one residence in Vladivostok. A 42-year-old man was arrested. He learned that he will be charged on the basis of article 282 (directing an extremist organization).
On the morning of 20 April 2018, in the city of Shuya of Ivanovo oblast, at least three searches were conducted in residences of local residents. One of the citizens, a 33-year-old man, was taken to the police department.
Earlier, in January and February 2018, mass searches were conducted in the cities of Belgorod and Kemerovo. Citizens are suspected of continuing the activity of the organization of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.
All searches and arrests were the direct consequences of the Russian Supreme Court decision liquidating and banning all legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. At the same time, Russian authorities continue to maintain that this decision does not prohibit confessing the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses. On a similar charge in the city of Orel, a Danish citizen was taken into custody, who has been in a SIZO since 25 May 2017. On 21 July 2017 the rights advocacy center Memorial recognized Dennis Christensen as a political prisoner. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 April 2018)
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