LEADER OF VOLOGDA JEHOVISTS ARRESTED IN EXTREMISM CASE
Interfax-Religiia, 25 December 2019
The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case against the leader of the Vologda Jehovah's Witnesses organization (which is forbidden in the RF) and his associate.
"The First Department for Investigation of Especially Important Cases of the Investigative Committee of Russia (SKR) for Vologda oblast opened a criminal case against two Vologdans on the basis of indicators of the crime defined in part 1 of article 282.2 of the CC RF (arranging the activity of an extremist organization)," Interfax was told on Wednesday at the SKR.
"During joint operational investigative events, personnel of the regional division of the Investigative Committee and the Center for Combating Extremism of the UMVD of Russia for Vologda oblast arrested a 45-year-old active director of a forbidden religious organizations and his 67-year-old associate," the report says.
Within the context of an ongoing operation, a series of searches in places of residence of the organizers and active members of the aforementioned organization was conducted by investigators, and apartments vehicles, and garages were inspected. "During the searches, literature, financial documents, and advertising materials were seized. A broad circle of witnesses was interrogated and forensic religious studies expert analyses were ordered," the SKR noted.
According to the investigation, the detainees arranged the activity of the "Vologda" religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, "while knowing reliably that this organization had been included in the list of forbidden organizations and a decision of a court for the liquidation of such, and a ban on its activity, had entered into legal force."
Since January 2019, the investigators assert, the suspects undertook active efforts intended for the arrangement of illegal activity of the aforementioned organization, including the arranging of religious performances and worship services, distribution of literature of extremist contents, and the collection of financial resources in the guise of donations.
At the present time, the investigation has established all the circumstances of the commission of a crime. On the basis of a petition of the investigation, a court has selected for the leader of the organization a measure of restriction in the form of imprisonment and his associate was assigned house arrest. The investigation of the criminal case is continuing. (tr. by PDS, posted 26 December 2019)
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