The trial of Dennis Christensen began in Orel

A Danish citizen is accused of continuing the activities of the banned Oryol community of Jehovah's Witnesses.

April 3, 2018 at The Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Orel held a preliminary hearing on the case Danish citizen Dennis Christensen, who is accused under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization) in the continuation of the activities of the banned community of Jehovah's Witnesses in Orel.

At the meeting on April 3, the consideration of the case was adjourned for a week at the request of Christensen, who applied for additional time to familiarize yourself with the materials of the case - video and audio files, photographs, books and brochures.

Recall, Christensen was detained on May 25, 2017 and taken into custody the next day, all this while he was in jail. He appealed the arrest, his complaint was communicated ECtHR.

We consider Christensen's persecution illegal. Local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Orel was declared extremist in 2016, the Supreme Court of Russia confirmed this decision of the regional court. However, we believe that the elimination organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses for extremism, persecution of members of their communities and prohibitions of texts have no legal grounds at all and are a manifestation of religious discrimination.

Sources

• Trial of Dane Dennis Christensen begins in Orel // Oryol news. 2018. April 3.