RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Russia looks for more severe punishment of Jehovah's Witnesses

PROSECUTOR ASKS FOR 6 AND 7 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BELIEVERS IN SARATOV

The sentence will become known in the near future

Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, 18 September 2019

 

On 18 September 2019, in the Lenin district court of Saratov, the prosecutor asked for 7 years incarceration for Konstantin Bazhenov, Feliks Makhammadiev, and Aleksei Budenchuk, and 6 lyears for Aleksei Miretsky, Roman Gridasov, and Gennady German. All are being charged for their religious views as Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

The criminal case against six peaceful Saratovians has dragged on since 9 June 2018. At that time, 43-year-old Konstantin Bazhenov, 35-year-old Aleksei Budenchuk, and 33-year-old Feliks Makhammadiev found themselves in a SIZO and they spent 343 days there. Later they were released under a pledge not to depart from their place of residence.

 

Besides imprisonment for their faith, the prosecutor also asked for all defendants to be restricted in their liberty with the denial of the right to occupy offices in public organizations for a period of one year.

 

On 18 September the debates began, after which the verdict will be announced in the next few days. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 September 2019)

 


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