INTERIM REPORT

NEGATIVE IMPACT
OF RUSSIAS BAN ON
JEHOVAHS WITNESSES
Russian Government Abuses and
Restrictions of Human Rights

Societal Abuses and Discrimination

M AY 26, 2017
SUMMMARY
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF RUSSIAS BAN
ON JEHOVAHS WITNESSES
Russian Government Abuses and Restrictions of Human Rights

Masked and heavily armed police and the National Guard raided a religious service in Chelyabinsk

Criminal Charges Police Raids on Private Religious Services

On 25 May 2017 the FSB raided a religious
service of Jehovahs Witnesses in the city
of Oryol and took Danish citizen Dennis
Christensen into custody. He is jailed in
pretrial detention for two months pending
completion of the criminal investigation.
He faces the possibility of imprisonment
from 6 to 10 years for alleged extremist
activity under Article 282.2, part 1, of the
Dennis Christensen
Criminal Code simply for participating in the
religious activity of Jehovahs Witnesses.
Official Warnings Threatening Criminal
or Administrative Prosecution
On 4 May 2017 the prosecutors office issued a warning to
the Chairman of the Krymsk LRO of Jehovahs Witnesses.
The document relied on the 20 April 2017 judgment of the
Supreme Court and warned that the chairman and members
of the LRO can be subject to administrative and criminal
liability for holding religious services.
of Jehovahs Witnesses
Over the past six weeks, law enforcement officials have raided
at least 18 religious services of Jehovahs Witnesses.
Threats to Parents and Children
On 17 April 2017 in the village of Bolshekrepinskaya, Rostov
Region, a school principal and two police officers met privately
with the 14-year-old daughter of a Witness at school, stating
that her mother is a member of a terrorist organisation
where members are taught to kill people and steal from
them. The rant portraying the Witnesses as terrorists brought
the girl to tears.
Refusal of Applications for Alternative
Civilian Service
On 28 April 2017 the Conscription Commission of the
Cheboksary and Marposadskiy regions rejected the application
for alternative service of one of Jehovahs Witnesses. The
Commission stated Jehovahs Witnesses are extremist
and cannot be granted alternative service.

Societal Abuses and Discrimination

Acts of Violence, Arson, and Vandalism

On 24 May 2017 in Zheshart, Komi Republic, a building used
by Jehovahs Witnesses for religious services was destroyed by
arson. Remnants of a Molotov cocktail were found at the scene.
On 30 April 2017 in Lutsino, Moscow Region, a home of a
Witness family was burned to the ground in an arson attack.
Arson of a Witness
Employment Dismissal familys home
in Lutsino
On 15 May 2017 the management of a chemical factory in
Dorogobuzh, Smolensk Region, told its employees who are
Jehovahs Witnesses that they had received orders from
the FSB to dismiss all of them. The management gave the
Witnesses the option of resigning or being fired.
 BANNING OF JEHOVAHS WITNESSES IN RUSSIA
Negative impact of 20 April 2017 judgment of the Supreme Court of Russia

Table of contents

Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights ................................... 1

I. Criminal charges ......................................................................................... 1
II. Official warnings threatening criminal or administrative prosecution ......................... 1
III. Police raids on private religious services of Jehovahs Witnesses .............................. 5
IV. Threats to parents and their children ................................................................ 8
V. Refusal of applications for alternative civilian service ........................................... 9

Societal abuses and discrimination ................................................................. 10

I. Acts of violence, arson, and vandalism ............................................................. 10
II. Employment dismissal .................................................................................. 11
 Russian Government abuses and restrictions
of human rights

I. Criminal charges

# Date Location Description

1. 25 May 2017 Orel, Orel Region At least 15 heavily armed police, including FSB,
stopped a religious service. They stated that a criminal
case had been started under Article 282.2 of the
Criminal Code for continuing an extremist
organisation. (The Orel local religious organisation of
Jehovahs Witnesses (LRO) had been banned as
extremist on 10 February 2016.) The police took
Danish citizen, Dennis Christensen, into custody. They
took copies of the identification documents of all
persons in attendance and required them to provide
written statements. Police then conducted searches of
the homes of Jehovahs Witnesses in Orel. Mr.
Christensen was detained overnight in FSB custody.
On 26 May 2017 at 3 p.m. the Sovietsky District Court
granted the application of the FSB and ordered Mr.
Christensen to be jailed in pre-trial detention for two
months pending completion of the FSB investigation.

II. Official warnings threatening criminal or administrative prosecution

# Date Location Description

1. 30 March 2017 Yekaterinburg, The prosecutors office issued an official warning to

Sverdlovsk Region the Yekaterinburg LRO of Jehovahs Witnesses. The
document relied on the 15 March 2017 order of the
Ministry of Justice suspending the activity of the
Administrative Centre and all 395 LROs. It warned that
the chairman and all LRO members that it is now
unlawful for them to hold religious services.

2. 1 April 2017 Tyulgan, Orenburg The prosecutors office published a newspaper

Region announcement instructing citizens to report any
activity of Jehovahs Witnesses to law enforcement
officials.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

II. Official warnings threatening criminal or administrative prosecution

# Date Location Description

3. 3 April 2017 Petropavlovsk- The prosecutors office issued a warning to the

Kamchatsky, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky LRO of Jehovahs
Kamchatka Territory Witnesses. The document relied on the 15 March
2017 order of the Ministry of Justice suspending the
activity of the Administrative Centre and all 395 LROs.
It warned that the chairman and all LRO members are
subject to prosecution under the Code of
Administrative Violations if they continued to hold
religious services.

4. 11 April 2017 Podporozhye, The prosecutor issued a warning that it is now

Leningrad Oblast forbidden for Jehovahs Witnesses to hold religious
services, including their sacred annual religious
commemoration, the Memorial of Jesus Christs death.
The document relied on the 15 March 2017 order of
the Ministry of Justice suspending the activity of the
Administrative Centre and all 395 LROs. It warned that
holding religious services can be prosecuted under
Article 20.28 of the Code of Administrative Violations.

5. 11 April 2017 Vyborg and The prosecutors office issued a warning prohibiting
Roshchino, Leningrad Jehovahs Witnesses from conducting religious
Region services in the cities of Vyborg and Roshchino.

6. 11 April 2017 Tikhvin, Leningrad The acting deputy city prosecutor issued a warning
Region prohibiting Jehovahs Witnesses from holding religious
services in the city.

7. 11 April 2017 Anapa, Krasnodar The prosecutors office issued a warning prohibiting
Territory Jehovahs Witnesses from holding religious services in
the city.

8. 12 April 2017 Krasnoturyinsk, The prosecutors office issued a warning prohibiting

Sverdlovsk Region Jehovahs Witnesses from holding religions services in
the city.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

II. Official warnings threatening criminal or administrative prosecution

# Date Location Description

9. 21 April 2017 Pervouralsk, The prosecutors office issued a warning to the

Sverdlovsk Region Chairman of the Pervouralsk LRO of Jehovahs
Witnesses. The document relied on the 20 April 2017
judgment of the Supreme Court and warned that the
chairman and all members of the LRO are subject to
criminal liability under Article 282.2(1), 282.2(1.1), and
282.2(2) of the Criminal Code if they continue the
activity of the LRO or seek to persuade or recruit
others to participate in its activity.

10. 26 April 2017 Irbit, Sverdlovsk The prosecutors office issued a warning to a
Region congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses in Irbit. The
document relied on the 15 March 2017 order of the
Ministry of Justice suspending the activity of the
Administrative Centre and all 395 LROs. It warned that
congregation members can be subject to
administrative and criminal liability for holding religious
services.

11. 4 May 2017 Krymsk, Krasnodar The prosecutors office issued a warning to the
Territory Chairman of the Krymsk LRO of Jehovahs Witnesses.
The document relied on the 20 April 2017 judgment of
the Supreme Court and warned that the chairman and
members of the LRO can be subject to administrative
and criminal liability for holding religious services.

12. 10 May 2017 Sergiyev Posad, The prosecutors office issued a warning to the
Moscow Region Chairman of the Sergiy Posad LRO of Jehovahs
Witnesses. The document relied on the 15 March
2017 order of the Ministry of Justice suspending the
activity of the Administrative Centre and all 395 LROs.
It warned that the chairman and members of the LRO
can be prosecuted under Article 20.28 of the Code of
Administrative Violations.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

II. Official warnings threatening criminal or administrative prosecution

# Date Location Description

13. 12 May 2017 Novorossiysk, The prosecutors office issued a warning to a

Krasnodar Territory congregation of Jehovahs Witnesses in Novorossiysk
concerning a planned religious convention. The
document relied on the 20 April 2017 judgment of the
Supreme Court and warned that congregation
members are subject to criminal liability under Article
282.2 of the Criminal Code if they continue the activity
of an extremist organisation, including by holding
religious services.

14. 18 May 2017 Aleysk, Altai Territory The prosecutors office issued a warning to the
Chairman of the Aleysk LRO of Jehovahs Witnesses.
The document relied on the 20 April 2017 judgment of
the Supreme Court and warned that the chairman and
members of the LRO can be subject to criminal or
administrative liability if they continue the activity of an
extremist organisation, including holding religious
services.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

III. Police raids on private religious services of Jehovahs Witnesses

# Date Location Description

1. 4 April 2017 Tavda, Sverdlovsk Six law enforcement officials, including some from the
Region FSB, and the local prosecutors office, stopped a
religious service attended by 30 persons. One official
read from the front of the Kingdom Hall (place of
worship) the 15 March 2017 order of the Ministry of
Justice suspending the activity of the Administrative
Center. The police ordered the religious service must
stop. They wrote down identification information of
each person in attendance and then directed everyone
to leave.

2. 8 April 2017 Zainsk, Republic A group of police forced their way into a place of
of Tatarstan worship and interrupted the religious service. They
insisted on obtaining written statements from the
persons in attendance and later issued summonses
for further investigation.

3. 8 April 2017 Bugulma, Republic A group of police forced their way into a place of
of Tatarstan worship and interrupted the religious service. They
took photos of all persons in attendance and copied
their identification documents.

4. 9 April 2017 Millerovo, Rostov A group of police arrived at a place of worship just as
Region the religious service was ending. The police
demanded to know who organized the service since
activity of all LROs of Jehovahs Witnesses was
suspended by the 15 March 2017 order of the Ministry
of Justice.

5. 9 April 2017 Salsk, Rostov Region A group of police arrived at the place of worship
demanding to conduct an inspection based on
permission of the local prosecutor.

6. 11 April 2017 Michurinsk, Tambov At the conclusion of a religious service, police served
Region a summons on all persons in attendance and
demanded that they go to the prosecutors office to
provide written statements concerning their religious
activity.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

III. Police raids on private religious services of Jehovahs Witnesses

# Date Location Description

7. 11 April 2017 Kazanskaya village, Police arrived at the conclusion of a religious service
Rostov Region and questioned those in attendance concerning the
content of the service and who organized it.

8. 12 April 2017 Chelyabinsk, Masked and heavily armed police, with the National
Chelyabinsk Region Guard, and journalists, interrupted a religious service.
One official read the 15 March 2017 suspension order
of the Ministry of Justice stating it is illegal for
Jehovahs Witnesses to meet. The media report can
be viewed at: https://youtu.be/pPj-VnT2pIw

9. 13 April 2017 Mezhdurechensk, Police and representatives of the municipal

Kemerovo Region administration stopped a religious service. They
questioned the persons in attendance about the
beliefs of Jehovahs Witnesses and wrote the names
of the LRO members.

10. 14 April 2017 Severobaykalsk, Police and representatives of the FSB forcibly entered
Republic of Buryatia a place of worship during a religious service. They
demanded to know who organized the service and
demanded written statements from all in attendance.

11. 16 April 2017 Kotovo, Volgograd Police interrupted a religious service. They took copies
Region of the identification documents of all persons in
attendance and also took photos of all automobiles
(and registration numbers) parked outside the place of
worship.

12. 18 April 2017 Yalta, Republic of At the conclusion of a religious service, law
Crimea enforcement officials including representatives of the
FSB, Ministry of Interior Affairs, and the prosecutors
office, entered the place of worship to conduct an
inspection. They asserted that the purpose was to
determine who was responsible for organizing the
service.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

III. Police raids on private religious services of Jehovahs Witnesses

# Date Location Description

13. 22 April 2017 Dzhankoy, Republic The deputy city prosecutor and several police arrived
of Crimea at the conclusion of a religious service. They insisted
that Jehovahs Witnesses had violated the 20 April
2017 Supreme Court decision by holding the religious
service. After their search, the police sealed the place
of worship to prevent it from being used.

14. 23 April 2017 Village of Police interrupted a religious service. They justified
Yermakovskoye, their actions by relying on the 20 April 2017 decision
Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Supreme Court.

15. 30 April 2017 Pavlovskiy Posad, Up to ten plain clothes police stopped a religious
Moscow Region service. They announced that according to the 20 April
2017 Supreme Court judgment, Jehovahs Witnesses
have no right to gather for worship, including reading
the Bible. The police took a video of all persons in
attendance and took copies of their identification
documents.

16. 30 April 2017 Krymsk, Krasnodar At the conclusion of a religious service, ten police
Territory demanded entry to inspect the place of worship. They
demanded to know who organized the service. The
police referred to the 20 April 2017 Supreme Court
decision and stated that Jehovahs Witnesses cannot
meet for worship.

17. 3 May 2015 Village of Olginskaya, Police interrupted a religious service held in a private
Krasnodar Territory home. They warned that if Jehovahs Witnesses
continued to meet together they would be prosecuted
for extremist activity.

18. 4 May 2017 Village of Police interrupted a religious service. They questioned
Bekhteyevka (city of all persons in attendance and took copies of their
Korocha), Belgorod identification documents.
Region

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

IV. Threats to parents and their children

# Date Location Description

1. 17 April 2017 Village of One of Jehovahs Witnesses was summoned by the

Bolshekrepinskaya, director of the school where her 14-year-old daughter
Rostov Region attends. The director and other teachers insulted the
Witness mother by stating that she takes her daughter
to meetings of a terrorist organisation. They
threatened to report the mother to the police. Two
days later, on 19 April 2017, the police came to the
mothers work place and shouted obscenities at her.
About the same time, the teachers, a local police
officer, and an official in civilian clothes (likely FSB)
met with the 14-year-old daughter at school stating her
mother is a member of a terrorist organisation where
they are taught to kill people and steal from them.

2. 24 April 2017 Village of During music class a teacher humiliated two sixth-
Bezvodnoye, Kirov grade daughters of a mother who is one of Jehovahs
Region Witnesses. When the mother went to the school to
discuss the incident with the teacher, the teacher
justified her actions by stating Jehovahs Witnesses
are banned in Russia.

3. 17 May 2017 Village of Tomilino, The parents of an eight-year-old girl were given a
Moscow Region written warning by the school principal based on the
20 April 2017 decision of the Supreme Court. The
warning stated that the parents were prohibited from
all actions that do not relate to the proper education
of their children and that if that prohibition is violated
the school will report the matter to the police and
consider transferring the child to another form of
training.

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Russian Government abuses and restrictions of human rights

V. Refusal of applications for alternative civilian service

# Date Location Description

1. 20 April 2017 Zelenodolsk, The Conscription Commission of the Zelenodolsk

Republic of Tatarstan Municipal District denied the application for alternative
service of one of Jehovahs Witnesses. The
Commission rejected the application because
Jehovahs Witnesses were banned by the Supreme
Court as extremist.

2. 28 April 2017 Village of Kugesi, The Conscription Commission of the Cheboksary and
Republic of Chuvash Marposadskiy regions rejected the application for
alternative service of one of Jehovahs Witnesses. The
Commission stated Jehovahs Witnesses are
extremist and cannot be granted alternative service.
The Commission threatened to turn the case over to
the FSB for investigation.

3. 12 May 2017 Shumerlya, Chuvash The Conscription Commission of the city of Shumerlya
Republic rejected the application for alternative service of one
of Jehovahs Witnesses. The Commission based its
rejection on the 20 April 2017 decision of the Supreme
Court.

9
 Societal abuses and discrimination

I. Acts of violence, arson, and vandalism

# Date Location Description

1. 26 April 2017 Belgorod, Belgorod One of Jehovahs Witnesses was attacked while
Region leaving his home. The perpetrator shouted you have
been banned and repeatedly punched the Witness in
the head, face, and upper body.

2. 30 April 2017 Lutsino, Moscow The home of a family who are Jehovahs Witnesses
Region was set on fire by a neighbor. He yelled that
Jehovahs Witnesses were propagandising their
religion. Within 20 minutes, the Witnesses home, and
the adjoining home of their elderly parents, were
burned to the ground.

3. 7 May 2017 Tyumen, Tyumen During a religious service of Jehovahs Witnesses a

Region group of men entered the place of worship, used
obscene and insulting language, and threatened
violence against the persons in attendance. The men
claimed they had killed people in military operations.
They justified their threats by referring to the 20 April
2017 Supreme Court decision.

4. 24 May 2017 Zheshart, Komi A building used by Jehovahs Witnesses for their
Republic religious services is destroyed by arson. Remnants of
a Molotov cocktail are found at the scene.

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Societal abuses and discrimination

II. Employment dismissal

# Date Location Description

1. 3 April 2017 Ilyinskiy, Perm One of Jehovahs Witnesses working for the Ilyinsky
Region Municipal District is summoned to the office of the
Deputy Head of the Municipal District. The deputy
stated that the Witness is violating the Federal Law on
Extremist Activity and that unless she abandoned her
religion she would be fired.

2. 26 April 2017 Mineralnye Vody, One of Jehovahs Witnesses working in a security firm
Stavropol Territory was summoned by his employer. His employer gave
him an ultimatum to resign or he would make his life
unbearable. The employer stated this was because
the employee is one of Jehovahs Witnesses.

3. 4 May 2017 Village of Yashkino, Two police officers in plain clothes approached one of
Kemerovo Region Jehovahs Witnesses at her place of employment.
They stated that Jehovahs Witnesses have been
banned as extremist and they are collecting
information on all Jehovahs Witnesses who live in
the village. The police defamed Jehovahs Witnesses
by likening them to ISIS and stated that their police
actions were justified to protect children from the
propaganda of Jehovahs Witnesses.

4. 15 May 2017 Dorogobuzh, The management of a chemical factory where a

Smolensk Region number of Jehovahs Witnesses are employed stated
that they had received orders from the FSB to dismiss
all Jehovahs Witnesses. The management gave the
Witnesses the option of resigning or being fired.

5. 16 May 2017 Novokubansk, One of Jehovahs Witnesses who works at a

Krasnodar Territory kindergarten school was summoned by her employer.
He stated that Jehovahs Witnesses had been
declared extremist and that her employment was to
be terminated immediately.

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