Martynov: ex-Chairman of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taganrog signs recognizance not to leave

Nikolai Trotsyuk, ex-Chairman of the religious community Jehovah's Witnesses in Taganrog (Rostov Region), liquidated in 2009 in accordance with the Rostov Regional Court decision, signed a recognizance not to leave. This was told today to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Grigory Martynov, the representative of the Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

"A criminal case was instituted against unidentified persons. However, the fact that Nikolai Trotsyuk signed a recognizance not to leave actually means that he was the first suspect in the case. And, in principle, only by reason that he had not changed his religious views and remained a Jehovah's Witness after the decision of the Rostov Regional Court. He was conducting no illegal activity, and the local religious community did not exist," Grigory Martynov has explained.

Yet back in March 2010, Nikolai Trotsyuk expressed his concern that the City Prosecutor's Office was going to institute a criminal case against him. Grigory Martynov has not clarified who had issued a recognizance not to leave for Nikolai Trotsyuk. Representatives of local law enforcement agencies have not yet commented on the situation.