Criminal proceedings against four Jehovah's Witnesses in North Osetia have been stopped

Legal actions brought after searches in the houses of Jehovah's Witnesses in North Osetia in June, 2010, carried out for suspicion of keeping printed matter acknowledged by the court as extremist have been stopped.

As it has been reported by "Caucasian Knot", there were searches and removal of printed matter in the houses of four Jehovah's Witnesses in Vladikavkaz and the village of Nogir.

Attorney Victor Shipilov is sure that in case of searches and removal of printed matter in the houses of four Jehovah's Witnesses "Not only groundless limitation of constitutionally significant rights but also confusion of direct executors in legal nature of the events are on hand" for "specific article 20.29 of the Code of Administrative delinquencies of the Russian Federation establishes administrative responsibility for keeping extremist printed matter for the purpose of mass distribution exceptionally" but "having extremist printed matter at home for a person's own use makes up no component of administrative delinquency, all the more so, of a crime".

We will remind that on June, 12, District court of Mozdok (North Osetia) closed down administrative proceedings against the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses for the lack of components of delinquency. Local Witnesses have also been charged with keeping printed matter acknowledged as extremist by court for the purpose of mass distribution.