Contents tagged with Jehovah's Witnesses
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Poland refuses to extradite to Russia fugitive banker because of his membership with Jehovah's Witnesses
Belsky Regional Court (Poland) refused to extradite Probusinessbank's former Vice-President Yaroslav Alekseev, reports TVP news outlet.
The court ruled that Alekseev's extradition to Russia is "legally inadmissible" under Polish and international law. Judge Teresa Jędrzejas noted that it is also a possible violation of the rights of the accused in his homeland. According to human rights activists, detainees in Russia are subjected to torture and humiliation. She noted that Alekseev is a member …
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Russian court sentences a Jehovah's Witness to six years in prison
On Wednesday, a Russian court found a Jehovah's Witness guilty of extremism and sentenced him to six years in prison, stated a representative of the Christian Denomination.
The United States and the European Union called the case of Danish citizen Dennis Christensen “a litmus test” for religious freedom in Russia and a new spiral in the intensifying confrontation with the West.
Christensen, the first Jehovah’s Witness arrested for extremism in Russia, pleaded not guilty.
“Unfortunately, this …
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Putin condemns the inclusion of Jehovah's Witnesses in the list of extremist organizations in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the inclusion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the list of extremist organizations “complete nonsense”, Putin stated at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights.
“There is a list of organizations, for example, that are allegedly involved in extremism and terrorism. There are 489 of them, 404 of which are Jehovah’s Witnesses. I will make an ominous pause here. There can be many claims against Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, …
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Jehovah’s Witnesses accuse Russia of human rights violations
The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization has filed 37 statements in European courts concerning human rights violations against members of their religion in Russia and the Crimea.
This statistic was reported by Calisto Walker, a representative of the Jehovah’s Witnesses head office in New York, in a comment to Krym.Realii TV.
According to Walker, the Jehovah’s Witnesses HQ in New York is convinced that, despite criminal persecution in Russia and Crimea, adherents will continue to preach and to …
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Authorities of separatist LPR called Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘Ukrainian agents’
Alexander Basov, the so-called Minister of State Security of the Luhansk People’s Republic stated that members of the religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses who are in the uncontrolled areas of Luhansk region are really agents of the Security Service of Ukraine.
The LPR officials claim that the religious organization was "an active agent of the Security Service's influence in the LPR." According to separatist authorities, searches conducted on the premises belonging to the Jehovah's …
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Kremlin adds Jehovah’s Witnesses to list of banned organizations
The Russian Ministry of Justice added the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organization to the list of organizations which are prohibited and subject to dissolution in Russian territory. In the department’s official announcement, this ruling is explained as the application of the law on opposing extremist activity.
The Russian Justice Ministry noted that the ban extends to the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center, as well as the 395 regional branches included in its structure.
On July 17, …
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USA accuses Russia of oppressing religious minorities
During last year, Russian authorities continued to oppress members of religious minorities and detained them on suspicion of extremism, as stated in the U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report.
Several U.S. citizens were fined and expelled from Russia for their religious activities. In particular, volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) were accused of publicly inciting attacks on representatives of other religions.
In addition, …
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EU expressed its deep regret over Russia’s decision to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses
The European Union expressed its regret that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation confirmed its decision to liquidate all registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses, as announced on Tuesday, July 18, by the European Union External Action Service.
“Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious organizations, are guaranteed the right to peaceful freedom of assembly by the Russian Constitution, as well as by Russia's international obligations and international human rights standards," …
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Russian Jehovah's Witnesses to appeal to European Court of Human Rights over ban on their activities in Russia
Russian Jehovah's Witnesses intend to apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to appeal the dissolution of their organization in Russia, as announced on Monday, July 17, by attorney Viktor Zhenkov, who is representing the Jehovah's Witnesses in court.
"The final point on this issue has still not been made, insofar as the Supreme Court has violated not only the norms of Russian legislation, but also international legislation; therefore, we will appeal this decision to the European …
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Military Registration office in the annexed Crimea asked a Jehovah's Witnesses follower to change his beliefs
The Military Commission of the Bakhchisaray district of the annexed Crimea demanded a conscript-follower of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to provide “documentation of his change of belief”, as stated on the Russian Jehovah's Witnesses’ website.
It was reported that in early June, the Military Registration and Enlistment Office denied the young man the right to alternative services, stating he must change his beliefs.
The organization's website has also published a copy of the draft notice, in which …