MEMBERS OF EXTREMIST ORGANIZATION OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARRESTED IN PERM
In the Lenin court of Perm, measures of restriction were selected for members of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. Yesterday two persons were arrested and they were to be brought into court under escort.
Last year the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Russian Federation was ruled to be extremist and it is outside the law. According to information of an investigation, one of the detainees conducted activity knowing that the organization was forbidden. Meetings of adherents were arranged and new members were received into the organization.
Two days ago two were arrested. The investigator suggested to select a measure of restriction of house arrest, insisting that the members of the religious organization should not be left at liberty since the crime is severe. One of the detainees asked the court to accept a signed promise not to depart.
At the present time a second session should
begin to which a second detainee will be brought under escort.
Vesti Perm is following the development of events. (tr. by PDS,
posted 19 September 2018)
TWO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARRESTED IN PERM
SOVA Center for News and Analysis, 19 September 2018
A court is selecting a measure of restriction for believers who are charged with continuing the activity of a local congregation.
On 19 September 2018 it became known that in the Lenin district court of Perm, a trial is going on for selection of a measure of restriction for two adherents of Jehovah's Witnesses charged on the basis of article 282.2 of the CC (arranging the activity of an extremist organization or participation in such). The investigator insists on house arrest.
The believers were arrested on 17 September, one of whom is charged that in continuing the activity of a forbidden congregation he conducted religious meetings and performed a ritual of baptism.
According to a report of the Russian Guard, during joint events, personnel of SOBR Russian Guard and the directorate of the Russian F.S.B. for Perm territory examined "more than ten addresses where there were a great sum of money and literature forbidden on the territory of the Russian Federation."
Earlier, in May 2018, in Perm, Alexander Soloviev, who also was charged with continuing the activity of the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, was placed under house arrest.
We recall that in April 2017 the Russian Supreme Court made a decision for finding the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and 395 local organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses to be extremist. In July, an appeal of this decision was declined and after that, in August, the organizations were entered into the list of extremist organizations. We consider that this decision, like prosecutions of Jehovah's Witnesses on the whole, does not have legal grounds and we consider it as a manifestation of religious discrimination. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 September 2018)
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