The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation suspended the activities of the main organization of Jehovah's Witnesses

The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation announced the suspension of the activities of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses, the central organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

The organization is included in the register of religious associations "whose activities have been suspended due to their extremist activities."

The basis for the introduction is the order of the Ministry of Justice of March 15, 2017. on the agency's website It has not been published .

As of March 23, 2017, two organizations are included in the register. The second is the local organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Birobidzhan.

• In mid-March, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to ban the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" due to violations of anti-extremist legislation. Consideration of the claim is scheduled for April 5.
• The Ministry of Justice claims that branches of Jehovah's Witnesses distribute extremist literature. The organization rejects allegations of extremism and warns of "catastrophic consequences for religious freedom in Russia" if the lawsuit is upheld, reports . Interfax
• Earlier, the Supreme Court upheld decisions to ban the activities of a number of regional organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses. Local branches have been repeatedly prosecuted for distributing extremist materials.