RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Operation "Judgment Day" against Jehovah's Witnesses

SEARCHES AND ARRESTS OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES CONDUCTED IN BIROBIDZHAN AND ORENBURG OBLAST

Portal-Credo.ru, 17 May 2018

 

At least 9 searches in homes of local residents who are thought to be Jehovah's Witnesses were conducted on 17 May in Birobidzhan (Jewish autonomous oblast), the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses reports. One of the operatives participating in the searches said that a total of 150 siloviki are participating in this operation, which has the code name "Judgment Day."

 

In the process of searches, photographs, bank cards, money, and all electronic equipment (even old and broken things) were taken from the citizens.

 

Thus far there is no information about which criminal case the searches were being conducted about and on the basis of which article it was opened.

 

In the morning of 16 May, a series of searches in homes of citizens who are thought to be Jehovah's Witnesses was conducted in the cities of Orenburg and Buzuluk (Orenburg oblast). According to preliminary information, three citizens were arrested and pledges not to depart were taken from another three. It is known that citizens have been held as defendants on the basis of part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the RF (participation in an extremist organization).

 

It is expected that a decision about the measure for insuring appearance for those arrested will be made on 17 May.

 

On 17 July of last year, the decision of the Russian Supreme Court finding all 396 religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia to be extremist and banning their activity took legal effect. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 May 2018)


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