RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Total number of searches of Jehovah's Witnesses tops 600

IN KARELIA 17 SEARCHES OCCURRED AND 3 CRIMINAL CASES FOR FAITH WERE OPENED

Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 6 August 2019

 

The wave of persecutions in Russia has reached Karelia. The local department of the FSB opened simultaneously three criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses, specifically against 44-year-old Aleksei Smelov from Kondopoga, 42-year-old Maksim Amosov, and 57-year-old Nikolai Leshchenko from Petrozavodsk. On 31 July 2019, searches were conducted in the homes of each and they were released on their own recognizance.

 

In total, six searches were conducted in believers' homes in the city of Kondopoga and at least another 11 searches were conducted in Petrozavodsk. On the whole, FSB personnel conducted themselves politely, although in unjustifiably invading the personal space of law-abiding citizens, the law enforcers violated human rights enshrined in Russian legislation.

 

Pressure on Jehovah's Witnesses has only intensified in recent months. In total, after the decision of the Supreme Court, searches have been conducted in 613 homes of believers. (tr. by PDS, posted 6 August 2019)


Related article:
Actions against Jehovah's Witnesses in Russian northwest
August 1, 2019

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