IN
MURMANSK, ACTIVITY
OF JEHOVISTS CUT OFF
Interfax-Religiia,
30
December 2019
In
Murmansk,
personnel of departments of the S.K.R. [Russian version of
F.B.I.] and the
F.S.B. [successor of soviet K.G.B.] put a stop to the activity
of the extremist
association of Jehovah's Witnesses that has been banned by a
court.
As the
press service
of the S.K.R. for Murmansk oblast reports, a criminal case on
the basis of part
1 of article 282.2 of the CC RF (arranging the activity of a
religious
association with respect to which a court has made a decision
that has taken
legal effect for liquidation because of conducting extremist
activity).
In 2017,
by a
decision of the Russian Supreme Court, the religious
organization
"Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia,"
including
its local organizations, including in Murmansk, was liquidated.
However,
in Murmansk
the Jehovah's Witnesses continued their activity to the present
time,
conducting meetings, preaching, distributing religious
literature, and drawing
new people into their congregation.
"Within
the
context of a criminal case that has been opened, investigators
of the S.K.R.,
with the armed support of fighters of the Russian U.F.S.B. for
Murmansk oblast,
conducted simultaneous searches at five addresses on Murmansk
territory for the
purpose of seizing documents and items having significance for
the criminal
case and also for identifying persons who are participating in
illegal
activity," the report says.
As a
result, a large
amount of literature and digital equipment was seized.
Investigators also
identified a circle of persons who have participated in meetings
and conducted
them.
At the
present time,
within the context of the investigation, special investigative
and search
operational events are going on. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 December
2019)
SUNDAY
OPERATION
AGAINST BELIEVERS IN MURMANSK.
Efforts
of
Investigative Committee thrown into study of Bible readings
Jehovah's
Witnesses
in Russia, 30 December 2019
On 29
December, law
enforcers, including personnel of the Investigative Committee of
Russia for
Murmansk oblast, simultaneously penetrated into at least four
apartments where
Jehovah's Witnesses reside. Searches and interrogations were
conducted. A
criminal case has been opened.
It is
known that
criminal case No. 11902470002000277 was opened. It is being
investigated by the
investigation department for the city of Murmansk of the
Investigative
Committee of Russia for Murmansk oblast. It is still unclear,
however, on which
article and against whom this case was opened.
Among
others, the investigators
I.O. Shash and N.I. Glebov are active in this operation.
Earlier,
on 18 April
2018, in the city of Polyarny of Murmansk oblast, searches were
conducted in
homes of local residents. Forty-four-year-old Roman Markin and
61-year-old
Viktor Trofimov were sent to the SIZO on suspicion of "arranging
the
activity of an extremist organization" (the ages indicated at
the time of
the arrest). On 24 May 2019 an indictment was issued for them, a
summary document
in which the investigators were supposed to substantiate their attacks on
peaceful,
law-abiding believers. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 December 2019)
Background articles:
Jehovah's Witnesses released from pretrial
custody
October 11, 2018
Local newspaper quotes Putin against trial
of Jehovah's Witnesses
May 13, 2019
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