In Kabardino-Balkaria, a case of extremism was opened against one of the leaders of the local Jehovah's Witnesses

The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code (incitement of hatred and enmity) against the leader of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Maysky, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, according to the department's website.

In August 2016, the suspect, being the chairman of the Jehovah's Witnesses committee in Maiskoye, asked parishioners to distribute copies of a printed publication included in the federal list of extremist materials. The Investigative Committee does not specify which publication we are talking about.

Investigators note that the prosecutor’s office warned the suspect about the inadmissibility of “extremist activities.”

A week ago, on August 11, a criminal case was opened in Kursk for involvement in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code) due to the distribution of leaflets of Jehovah's Witnesses. At the beginning of May, in Kabardino-Balkaria, in the city of Prokhladny, a trial began under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of Jehovah’s Witnesses member Arkadem Akopyan. This case was opened because of a certain speech by Akopyan, in which, according to investigators, he humiliated the dignity of those professing other religions.

On April 20, the Supreme Court recognized the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia as an extremist organization and banned it.

Two weeks after this decision, Jehovah's Witnesses reported several attacks on houses where members of the organization gathered. In the Moscow region was burned down , a house in which followers of Jehovah's Witnesses lived . Later in Izhevsk there was a pogrom in the house of the Witnesses.

“Mediazona” wrote in detail what the Supreme Court’s decision to ban them threatens for Jehovah’s Witnesses and what could become a reason for their criminal prosecution.