In Russia, policemen with machine guns interrogate followers of Jehovah's Witnesses

Over the past two weeks, police wearing balaclavas and carrying machine guns have raided the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in four Russian cities, reports Newsweek.

Фото: Depositphotos

“This is a new wave of persecution. We don’t know what’s going on,” said Yaroslav Sivulsky, a Jehovah’s Witnesses follower from Russia who now lives in Latvia. “If they want, they can throw any number of Jehovah’s Witnesses into prison because they know that Jehovah’s Witnesses pray at home and are easy to find.”

In turn, Jarrod Lopez, a representative of the international headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses, said that on April 20 law enforcement officers searched the homes of several Jehovah's Witnesses, including three former members of a local religious organization in Ivanovo.

“Igor Morozov was taken to the police station. Morozov was subsequently released, but he is prohibited from leaving Ivanovo,” Lopez said.

“On April 19, in Vladivostok, Russia, police raided a church service attended by Valentin Osadchuk and three elderly women. All four were taken to the police station and interrogated. Valentin remains in custody, he was charged under Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code for “organizing the activities of an extremist organization” (probably referring to Article 282.2. - Approx. Ed.). Osadchuk is being held in the pre-trial detention center until June 20, 2018,” Lopez added.

He noted that these events followed similar incidents in Polar, Ufa, Orel, Belgorod and Kemerovo. Russia also charged extremism with 46-year-old Dane Dennis Christensen. He can be put on 10 years, writes Newsweek.

“Russian authorities’ ruthless persecution of followers of Jehovah’s Witnesses is gaining momentum,” said Deputy Director Human Rights Watch for Europe and Central Asia by Rachel Denber. “Dismissing the case against Christensen would be a good first step toward stopping raids and other criminal cases against people who are simply practicing their faith.”

Recall, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in April recognized Jehovah's Witnesses as an extremist organization, liquidated and banned its activities in the country.

Translation: Inopressa

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