Russia

Day 3: Report: the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the prohibition of religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses

9amIn Moscow, a soft rain drizzles. Along the facade of the Supreme Court stretched a large queue of those who came to the process as listeners. A large bus is parked at the courthouse on Povarskaya Street,...

Day 2: Report: the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the prohibition of religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses

12:00The weather in Moscow is warm and sunny. Near the entrance to the court a large number of people were formed. Television journalists work. Among those present, there is a calm, friendly atmosphere. Noticeable increased security measures. Directly at the...

Day 1: Report: the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the prohibition of religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Supreme Court of Russia started hearings on the lawsuit on the liquidation of Jehovah's Witnesses. A textual report is being conducted from the courtroom.10:58The large beautiful courtroom is crowded. There are more than 200 people, including...

Russian Supreme Court rejects Jehovah Witnesses’ counterclaim seeking their recognition as victims of political repression

Moscow, April 5, Interfax - The Russian Supreme Court, having heard the parties' arguments, decided not to accept the counterclaim filed by Russia's Jehovah Witnesses seeking recognition of their organization as a victim of political repression."Decline to...

Russia Moves to Ban Jehovah’s Witnesses as ‘Extremist’

VOROKHOBINO, Russia — A dedicated pacifist who has never even held a gun, Andrei Sivak discovered that his government considered him a dangerous extremist when he tried to change some money and the teller “suddenly...

KAZAKHSTAN: Lawyers now face trial for defending client

The two lawyers for a Jehovah's Witness now on trial in Astana are themselves under criminal investigation. The KNB secret police investigator accuses them of "revealing information from a pre-trial investigation" by appealing to President...

Russia’s Misuse of Terrorism and Extremism Laws to Restrict the Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief

 As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnesto the Permanent Council, ViennaMarch 30, 2017 Thank you, Mr. Chair.The freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief is a pillar of the OSCE’s concept of comprehensive security. In...

Russia seeks to declare Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist group

Russia's justice ministry has filed a lawsuit with its supreme court to declare the national headquarters of the country's Jehovah’s Witnesses an extremist organization.The legal filing is noted on the court's website with no date given for legal action. The...

Helsinki Commission Condemns Pending Legal Action against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

 WASHINGTON—Following the Russian government’s request for its Supreme Court to effectively ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia from worshipping, claiming that they are members of an “extremist organization,” Helsinki Commission Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman...

Vladimir Putin signs law allowing Russia to ignore international human rights rulings

 Vladimir Putin has signed a law allowing the Constitutional Court of Russia to decide whether or not to comply with judgements made by international human rights courts.The law, published by the government on Tuesday, enables Russia’s...