In Sochi, arrests of Jehovah's Witnesses* become an act of intimidation

Jehovah's Witnesses* from Sochi plead not guilty of participating in an extremist organization, and their arrests are an act of intimidation of believers, notes advocate Anton Bogdanov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 17, investigators reported about arrests of two Jehovah's Witnesses* in Sochi. According to the investigators, for two years, 45-year-old and 68-year-old residents of Adler organized gatherings and religious performances and involved new participants in the organization, recognized as extremist and banned in Russia by the court. Searches were also conducted at houses of other believers.

"On October 21, the Krasnodar Territorial Court will consider appeals filed against the resolution pronounced by a judge of the Central District Court of Sochi ... On October 11, the judge pronounced a decision to take into custody two Sochi believers after searches at their houses. The men are suspected of extremism for their belief. It is still not clear what charges may be brought against them," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told on October 20 by Anton Bogdanov, an advocate of the detained Jehovah's Witnesses*.

According to the advocate, "searches and arrests in Sochi are acts of intimidation of believers."

"These people are not guilty of anything and do not admit their guilt in participating in an extremist organization. As an advocate, I believe the charge brought against them is inconsistent and is an act of intimidation," Anton Bogdanov said.

* 396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized as extremist, and their activities are banned in Russia by the court's decision.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 21, 2019 at 03:02 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.