The Supreme Court recognized the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia as an extremist organization

The Supreme Court granted the request of the Ministry of Justice to recognize the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia as an extremist organization, liquidate it and ban its activities. The meeting was broadcast on the organization's website.

The lawsuit was filed after a February inspection of the organization, which the center regarded as preparation for a liquidation lawsuit. Earlier, the Jehovah's Witnesses Management Center received a warning from the Prosecutor General's Office about the “inadmissibility of extremist activities.” In March, the Ministry of Justice suspended the activities of the Management Center.

According to the Ministry of Justice, despite the warning, “the organization’s structural units are still involved in extremist activities that violate human rights and freedoms and cause harm to citizens, public order and security.”

The center noted that the Supreme Court decision will affect 400 registered local communities and more than 100 thousand followers of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Currently, local organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Taganrog, Elista, Stary Oskol, Belgorod , Abinsk and Orel have already been recognized as extremist . in the federal register of extremist materials Some of the organization’s books and brochures are included .

In November 2015, the court sentenced 16 members of the local Jehovah's Witnesses community in Taganrog; they were accused of continuing the activities of an extremist organization banned by the court (parts 1 and 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). They received suspended sentences and fines.