Detentions of Jehovah's Witnesses in March 2013

In March 2013, several cases of disruption of services of Jehovah's Witnesses in Astrakhan, Irkutsk and Nizhny Novgorod regions, in the Primorsky Territory, as well as the detention of members of the community by law enforcement officers in Moscow, Belgorod, Leninogorsk, Naberezhnye Chelny, Krasnodar Territory, Leningrad and Orenburg regions. In most cases, preaching Jehovah's Witnesses were brought to the police station, where they were interrogated, their passport data were copied, sometimes photographed and fingerprinted. In the police department of the village of Grigorievka, Orenburg region the police officer used physical force during the interrogation.

On March 7, 2013, a divine service was disrupted, which was held in a private house in Vyksa, Nizhny Novgorod region. The police officers wrote passport data of those present and examined the premises. A protocol was drawn up on an administrative offense under Art. 20.29 Administrative Code of the Russian Federation (production and distribution of extremist materials), which believers intend to appeal.

26 March 2013 in Astrakhan by police officers and employees of the city administration interrupted the annual worship service of Jehovah's Witnesses (Supper memories of the death of Jesus Christ), having risen to the stage and ordered everyone leave the room and turn off the lights. IN against the head of the community, a protocol was drawn up on administrative offense under h. 1 Article. 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of the established procedure organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing). similar Thus, on the same day, divine services were disrupted in Bratsk and the village of Pogranichny Primorsky region.

Sources

• On manifestation of religious intolerance towards Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
• in the period from March 1 to March 31, 2013 // Message from the press service of Jehovah's Witnesses. 2013. April 2.