{"id":2871,"date":"2017-04-20T16:38:11","date_gmt":"2017-04-20T16:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/news\/2017\/04\/20\/the-supreme-court-decided-to-liquidate-the-centralized-religious-organization-of-jehovahs-witnesses-in-russia\/"},"modified":"2021-08-18T10:25:30","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T07:25:30","slug":"the-supreme-court-decided-to-liquidate-the-centralized-religious-organization-of-jehovahs-witnesses-in-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/the-supreme-court-decided-to-liquidate-the-centralized-religious-organization-of-jehovahs-witnesses-in-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Supreme Court decided to liquidate the centralized religious organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13:15<\/span><\/th>\n\n

The courtroom of the Supreme Court is gradually filled with listeners.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Feelings of difficulty with restrained excitement.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The parties are deliberately preparing to speak in the debate.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

13:50<\/span><\/th>\nMost of the seats in the hall are already occupied.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:09<\/span><\/th>\nHearings begin.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Omelchenko declares a short petition on the attachment of the\u00c2\u00a0European<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0Union statement on the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0In it, the European Union says that “the statement of March 15, filed by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in the Supreme Court, is the last severe measure taken in the fight against Jehovah’s Witnesses and the further increase in violations of their rights and prosecutions they are subjected to in Russia, that Contradicts international standards in the field of freedom of religion or belief. “<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The court clarifies how this statement can affect the outcome of today’s hearing.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Omelchenko says that this is evidence of a violation of Art.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a018 of the European Convention.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Although the European Union is not a body of the Council of Europe, it is made at a meeting of the Council of Europe.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The court refuses to attach the document.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:15<\/span><\/th>\nThe court proceeds to debate.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Statement by the representative of the Ministry of Justice.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:16<\/span><\/th>\nThe Ministry of Justice draws attention to the fact that Russia adheres to the principle of the rule of law.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The law on freedom of conscience provides a framework.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The Ministry of Justice draws attention to the fact that the very name of the Center, the “Administrative Center for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia,” indicates that the centralized organization exercises control over the LROs.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The Ministry of Justice draws attention to the leading role of the CA in interaction with the MPO.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The UC agrees on the issues related to the appointment of the chairmen of the LROs, etc.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Organizations of Jehovah’s Witnesses are a holistic organism.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0They are characterized by organizational unity.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0References to the canonical connection of the Ministry of Justice are inconclusive.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:25<\/span><\/th>\nAccording to the representative of the Ministry of Justice, the fact that the defendant continues to declare about the landings shows that the UC does not repent of extremist activity.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:28<\/span><\/th>\nThe representative of the Ministry of Justice: although many religions express some relation to secular authorities, the texts of Jehovah’s Witnesses contain impermissible insulting ways of expressing the truth of their beliefs.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Extremists recognize not the quotation of the Bible, but the interpretation of what is written in the Bible.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:35<\/span><\/th>\nThe Ministry of Justice believes that the wide coverage of court decisions on the recognition of materials as extremist gave the UC all the opportunities not to import literature into the country that would fall under the courts’ argument on what to regard as extremist activity.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:35<\/span><\/th>\nOn the gross violation of anti-extremist legislation, according to the Ministry of Justice, says the fact that the Center for 25 years imported materials that were later recognized as extremist.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:38<\/span><\/th>\nThe Ministry of Justice considers cynicism the fact that in the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses the word “extremist” (with reference to the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses) is quoted – despite the fact that the courts’ decisions to recognize extremist literature have entered into legal force.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:40<\/span><\/th>\nSumming up, the representative of the Ministry of Justice, as before, asks to liquidate the UC and all MROs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, to confiscate their property and all this – without waiting for the court’s entry into legal force.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:42<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Speech in the debate begins the representative of the administrative defendant Omelchenko.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

14:45<\/span><\/th>\nOmelchenko analyzes the non-legal nature of the generalization made by the Ministry of Justice, that various organizations of Jehovah’s Witnesses are supposed to be a single organization “with structural subdivisions”.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14:50<\/span><\/th>\nOmelchenko cites the norms of legislation on countering extremism.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The law does not provide for such extremist acts as “an act in the form of inaction”, “an act committed inadvertently, by negligence”.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The Supreme Court of Russia has repeatedly pointed out that extremism can only be active actions aimed at violent change of the foundations of the constitutional system.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:02<\/span><\/th>\n\n

The representative of the plaintiff, according to Omelchenko, gave in the debate some sort of own interpretation of what extremism is.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0However, the defendant recalls that the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation give legal interpretation.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0And these courts ruled that “inciting hatred and propaganda of social, racial, national, religious superiority, whose existence should be determined\u00c2\u00a0taking into account all the significant circumstances of each particular case<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0, namely the form and content of activities or information, their addressees and the target orientation , The socio-political context, the existence of\u00c2\u00a0a real threat<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0, including including calls for unlawful attacks on constitutionally protected values, justification for silt<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0And the justification of their commission. “<\/span><\/p>\n

“Restriction through the anti-extremist legislation of freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of speech and the right to disseminate information should not take place in relation to any activity or information on the sole ground that they do not fit into generally accepted notions, do not accord with established traditional views and opinions , Come into conflict with moral or moral or religious preferences.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Anything else would mean a departure from the constitutional requirement of necessity, proportionality and justice of restrictions on the rights and freedoms of man and citizen. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

15:13<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Omelchenko: The actions of the Ministry of Justice do not pursue a legitimate aim, they bear all signs of political repression.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“I ask to satisfy the demands of the administrative plaintiff completely.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Full text of Anton Omelchenko’s speech<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(PDF, 184 KB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

15:16<\/span><\/th>\nIn the debate advocates advocate Zhenkov.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0He begins with the personal impression of the last days.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0He found himself in one of Moscow’s parks and saw that dozens of Jehovah’s Witnesses came to this park.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0They did not have any posters and they did not come out to protest the lawsuit that began in the Supreme Court on April 5, 2017.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0They went out to clean up the garbage that had accumulated over the winter.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0So who are these people?<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Extremists or good Christians?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:20<\/span><\/th>\nThe Ministry of Justice demands to select all the buildings of worship of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, built by believers at their own expense.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0This happened only once in Russia, namely, a hundred years ago, in 1918.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Then the decree of the Council of People’s Commissars was taken away all property, including liturgical buildings, the Russian Orthodox Church.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:27<\/span><\/th>\nZhenkov: The Ministry of Justice suggested that Jehovah’s Witnesses, from despair, say that the cases against them are falsified.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0However, believers do not despair, notes Zhenkov.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0They believe the words of the Bible that there is nothing secret that would not become obvious.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0And everyone will bear responsibility before God for their deeds.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Just the other day, on April 17, 2017, the President of the Russian Federation approved an amendment to Art.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0303 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, criminal responsibility for falsifying evidence on administrative cases is now provided.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0However, the problem of falsifications should concern not only the President, but above all the executive bodies, such as the Ministry of Justice (justice in Latin means justice).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:35<\/span><\/th>\nIn the case there are dozens of certificates: gratitude not only for the improvement of the territory, but for an active life position, for helping those affected by natural disasters, for helping IDPs from the territory of Ukraine, for helping the children’s home, for improving the leisure center for children with disabilities, for Participate in the marathon “Help the child”, etc.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“Is it so that the organization is both useful and dangerous?” Zhenkov is perplexed.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:40<\/span><\/th>\nFemales analyze the testimony of witnesses, both from the plaintiff’s side and from the defendant’s side.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:45<\/span><\/th>\nThe lawyer draws attention to expert opinions on the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“Why do I stop at literature again?<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Because literature, recognized as extremist, is the\u00c2\u00a0only<\/em>\u00c2\u00a0complaint against Jehovah’s Witnesses in carrying out extremist activities. “<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15:46<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Zhenkov: “This room was attended by a man who was born in prison.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Because his mother was sentenced on 5 month of pregnancy as an enemy of the people to 8 years of imprisonment just because she was a Witness of Jehovah.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0She gave birth in prison, and spent two years in a prison orphanage.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0His father could not take him, because he was exiled to Siberia.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0In 1991, the state recognized the mother as a victim of political repression, apologized to her, appointed a pension.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0And here in court this person, who was born in prison, approached me and asked: “Does the Ministry of Justice wish to repeat this terrible story?”.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0And I did not know what to say.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0I still do not know what moves the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and those who direct this process. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

15:50<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Zhenkov: “What will happen if the court satisfies the request of the Ministry of Justice?<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0A respected court, if this is the will of the state, then the country successfully acquires 170 thousand prisoners of conscience and a corresponding reputation.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0If the state’s will is to observe the law, then the court’s decision can be only one – to refuse to satisfy the Ministry of Justice in satisfying the administrative claim. “<\/span><\/p>\n

Full text of the speech by Viktor Zhenkov<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(PDF, 171 KB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

15:52<\/span><\/th>\nSpeech in the debate begins representative of the defendant Toporov.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“Accusing Jehovah’s Witnesses of extremism is like accusing extremism of an infant.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Only an infant is not able to commit extremist activity because of his age, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are due to his religious worldview.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0For them, calls for any kind of violence against people, violent actions, enmity and hatred towards people by any indication are serious sins against God. “<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:02<\/span><\/th>\nSpeaking about the independence of the LRO, Toporov refers to the charter of the UC.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0MPOs are endowed with the absolute right, without taking into account the will of the Management Center, to determine the term of their presence in the said structure, to resolve issues of liquidation, transfer to other centralized religious organizations, etc.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“The UC does not have the right to liquidate the MPO, it is not their founder … What is this structural unit?” – asks Toporov.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:12<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Concluding his speech, Toporov cites entirely the\u00c2\u00a0statement of<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0human\u00c2\u00a0rights<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0activist L. Alekseeva.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0In the end, he says: “You, the respected court, it is you who, here and today, can eliminate injustice and dishonesty towards hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens, restore their good name, build confidence in the law on countering extremism, clearly showing the difference between these extremists and Extremists drawn on paper.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0We hope that the court will have the courage to do this and make a fair and impartial decision, guided by the law and the gift from God – a human conscience. “<\/span><\/p>\n

Full text of the speech by Yuri Toporov<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(PDF, 190 KB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

16:13<\/span><\/th>\nSpeech in the debate begins the representative Novakov.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0He draws attention to the fact that due to the suspension of activities, believers throughout the country were subjected to massive violations of rights: law enforcement officers intervened at divine services and copied personal data of citizens who had not committed any offense.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The police officers carried out illegal detention, delivery to the police, personal search, videotaping of persons.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Administrative cases are raised, warnings are made about the possibility of criminal prosecution under Art.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0282 of the Criminal Code.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:16<\/span><\/th>\nReferring to the increasing violations of rights, Novakov says: “Moreover, if the Court makes a decision on liquidation, this will produce even more tragic consequences throughout the country.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Any Jehovah’s Witness may be considered an extremist with all the ensuing consequences: widespread religious violence against Witnesses: from destruction and damage to property and attacks, to causing serious harm to health and killing peaceful religious citizens on the grounds of religious hatred.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0At any international level, blame for the connivance of violence and prosecution for far-fetched circumstances will be vested in state authorities in Russia. “<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:32<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Novakov recalls that the representative of the Ministry of Justice accused Jehovah’s Witnesses in cynicism in his debates.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“I’ll tell you what cynicism is,” Novakov said.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0When the Ministry of Justice in the court on an MPO first says that the rights of the CA are not affected, and then these decisions are presented as the basis for eliminating the CA.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Or when the Ministry of Justice perceives much more harsh statements against Jehovah’s Witnesses as “ordinary criticism”, while calling “extremism” those statements that are far from extremism.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0When, contrary to the available data, the Ministry of Justice dismisses reports of falsification, it does not dare to cite cases when falsification is clearly fixed on the video.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“That’s what cynicism is!” Concludes Novakov.<\/span><\/p>\n

Full text of Maxim Novakov’s speech<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(PDF, 125 KB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

16:40<\/span><\/th>\nSpeech in the debate begins a representative of Cherepanov.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0He believes that if the court leaves Jehovah’s Witnesses in the legal field, Russia will not only not suffer damage, but on the contrary will improve its reputation both inside the country and on the international arena.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Decisions against Jehovah’s Witnesses have been appealed to the ECHR and the UN Human Rights Committee.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:45<\/span><\/th>\n“We have had good cooperation with the Justice Ministry for decades,” said Cherepanov.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0“I think the Justice Ministry should feel in a sense our defender, he registered us!” Addressing to the representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Cherepanov said: “Let’s be friends!<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Do not become a punitive body.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0We do not want to sue you, we ask that you help us, and do not look for a reason to close us. “<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:47<\/span><\/th>\nCherepanov speaks about the problem of denigrating the good name of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the media.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Attributed to various atrocities, for example, “weaning apartments.”<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Proving the falsity of this myth, Cherepanov recalls the biblical commandment “Do not covet someone else’s”.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:50<\/span><\/th>\n\n

“The strength of a powerful state is precisely to protect the interests of the minority, because the majority will stand for itself.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Full text of the speech by Sergey Cherepanov<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(PDF, 105 KB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

16:55<\/span><\/th>\nThe representative of the defendant Kalin is speaking: “The Ministry of Justice not only humiliates itself and its functions, but humiliates the entire state in the eyes of the international community.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0If a respected representative of the Ministry of Justice has personal convictions that Jehovah’s Witnesses are extremists, I’m very sorry.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0If the representative of the Ministry of Justice was a victim of the circumstances in which he fell into, and is forced to perform just the role of accuser, I am also sorry.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0But in either case you will have to answer before your own conscience. “<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16:56<\/span><\/th>\n\n

Kalin recalls responsibility before God and says: “I take this opportunity to issue a warning to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Please, come to your senses!<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Please, come to your senses! “<\/span><\/p>\n

Full text of the speech of Vasily Kalin<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(PDF, 46 KB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

5pm<\/span><\/th>\nThe parties exchange replicas.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17:01<\/span><\/th>\nThe representative of the Ministry of Justice recalls that the essence of the claim is to liquidate the legal entity, the Justice Ministry does not make claims against individuals.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The Justice Ministry reminds the court of the testimony of one of the witnesses of the plaintiff who was expelled from the religious community.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The Ministry of Justice considers this a violation of the rights of citizens.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0In response, Zhenkov recalls that at one time the Russian Orthodox Church excommunicated the writer L. Tolstoy.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0In our time, the ROC refused to cancel the decision on excommunication, despite petitions for this.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0This is an internal matter of the church.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0Zhenkov asks whether the Ministry of Justice intends to present any demands to the ROC.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17:09<\/span><\/th>\nThe court is removed to the advisory room.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17:18<\/span><\/th>\nThe hall is filled with television journalists.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18:25<\/span><\/th>\nThe court is still in the advisory room.<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0The hall awaits the announcement of the judicial act.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18:50<\/span><\/th>\n\n

The Supreme Court decided to liquidate the centralized religious organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, as well as all 395 local religious organizations of this religion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Believers have already begun to prepare a complaint to the appellate instance (the panel consisting of three judges of the Supreme Court), which should be considered within a month.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

13:15 The courtroom of the Supreme Court is gradually filled with listeners.\u00c2\u00a0Feelings of difficulty with restrained excitement.\u00c2\u00a0The parties are deliberately preparing to speak in the debate. 13:50 Most of the seats in the hall are…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2871","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-news","category-russia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2871"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5651,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871\/revisions\/5651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jwforum.net\/portal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}