Jehovah's Witnesses prepare complaint to Strasbourg against judicial bans in SFD

A suit to be lodged to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the context of a breach of the Constitution of the Russian Federation as regards the freedom of worship. The pretext was the oppression of Jehovah's Witnesses by law enforcement bodies of the South federal District (SFD). This was stated by Gregory Martynov, press secretary of the administrative centre of this religious organization.

"Now, the complaint to the ECtHR is prepared by Jehovah's Witnesses on the Rostov ban," said Mr Martynov. "Filing a suit is a legal matter; unfortunately, it's not a swift procedure, and certain formalities should be observed. It is a matter of time, but I can say for sure that we'll address there in the near future," he has added.

He also told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the outcomes of the examination, which was conducted, under decision of the Taganrog Court, by the State Institution "Southern Regional Centre of Forensic Examination".

"The main experts' argument is that the Jehovah's Witnesses find their religion true; therefore, they conclude that the Witnesses are propagandizing their religious exclusiveness. Although under the Constitution, Russia shall have the freedom of worship. This is nonsense. In fact, any religion finds its faith correct and true. But in case with our community this provision is indicted to us as extremism," said the representative.

Let us remind you that in December 2009 in Adygea, the Teuchezhsk Inter-District Prosecutor's Office checked the activity of the local branch of Jehovah's Witnesses of the city of Adygeisk. The check established the fact of dissemination of literature, which was recognized to be extremist by the decision of the Rostov Regional Court of Taganrog.

Meanwhile, the Information-Analytical Centre "SOVA" wrote in its website that they do not find this decision, upheld in early December by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, to be legitimate.