In August "Jehovah's Witnesses" recorded two facts of oppression in Southern Russia

In August 1-31, the Southern and North-Caucasian Federal Districts (SFD and NCFD) reported two violations of the rights of the religious organizations of "Jehovah's Witnesses" - in the Rostov Region and North Ossetia. This is stated in the reference of the Management Centre of "Jehovah's Witnesses" in the Russian Federation on manifestations of intolerance to the believers of this confession.

The document prepared by the believers reports that on August 15 while preaching in the village of Pokrovskoe, Rostov Region, two believers of "Jehovah's Witnesses" - Zezina and Sopelnik - were detained. Law enforcers took them to the police station, questioned and then released.

On August 20 at 8:00 a.m. believers detected a damage of the outdoor observation unit, a sight glass and a mailbox in the liturgical building in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia.

In total for this period in the territory of the Russian Federation "Jehovah's Witnesses" recorded 12 incidents, which can be treated as manifestations of religious hatred. The most widespread way to pressure believers is through detention by law enforcement bodies - the religious organization counted seven such cases, including the incident in the Altai Territory, where a 14-year-old believer was detained in the course of preaching. The boy was taken to the police station, questioned and then released.

At least twice believers of "Jehovah's Witnesses" were physically attacked, once with a threat of murder. Also two attacks were recorded on liturgical buildings, where members of local communities come to pray. Also, one case of psychological pressure on the believers, who are taking their alternative military service, in order to dissuade them from attending religious meetings, notes the document of the Russian Management Centre.