RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Jehovah's Witness' property taken to cover fine

LAW ENFORCERS IN KIROV PLAN TO TAKE AWAY ELDERLY WOMAN'S ONLY RESIDENCE AS PUNISHMENT FOR FAITH

Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 29 July 2019

 

On 1 July 2019, the October district court of Kirov ordered the seizure of an apartment and garden of Lidiia Kachurina in the event that her 60-year-old son, Anatoly Tokarev, was found guilty of extremism for the fact that he is a Jehovah's Witness. The apartment and land parcel will be needed to cover a large fine from him.

 

The investigation suspects that Anatoly Tokarev "organized . . . including in his own apartment . . . meetings" of fellow believers and along with them sang biblical songs and studied religious literature, "the so-called Sacred Scripture (Bible)."

 

In May 2019, a search was conducted in Anatoly's home. When Anatoly refused to cooperate with the investigation, security personnel threatened problems for members of his family.

 

On 19 July 2019, Anatoly Tokarev was informed about the decision of Sergei Skorobogaty, a judge of the October district court of Kirov, who impounded the residence and land parcel belonging to him, which were located in the property of Tokarev's elderly mother. On 24 July 2019, Anatoly Tokarev appealed the decision concerning the seizure of the property.

 

Tokarev and his mother are not the only Kirovans who have confronted problems because of their religious confession. After a series of searches in Kirov, criminal cases were opened against at least 11 Jehovah's Witnesses. Polish citizen Andzhei Onishchuk has already been held in a SIZO for more than 290 days. (tr. by PDS, posted 29 July 2019)


Related articles:

Law enforcement conducts searches and pressures believers in Kirov
July 19, 2019

Criminal case against Jehovah's Witness for singing
May 28, 2019   

Pretrial restrictions of Jehovah's Witnesses comparatively long in Kirov
April 2, 2019  


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