The prosecutor asks that Dennis Christensen be sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.

In Orel, there is a debate on the case of a Danish citizen, whom accused of continuing the activities of the banned community of Jehovah's Witnesses.

On January 23, 2019, the Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Orel began a debate on case of Danish citizen Dennis Christensen, who is accused under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 Criminal Code (organization of activities of an extremist organization) in continuation activities of the banned community of Jehovah's Witnesses in Orel. The prosecutor requested Christensen 6.5 years in a penal colony.

Recall that Christensen was detained on 25 May 2017 and the next day he was taken into custody, all this time he was in jail. He appealed the arrest, his complaint was communicated to the ECtHR. The trial in the case began only in April 2018. Christensen is accused of organizing religious meetings and services, as well as raising money for the functioning of the banned community and carrying out preaching activities, coordinating his actions with the recognized extremist Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, and also involving new members in the community.

We consider the persecution of Christensen unlawful. local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Orel was recognized as extremist in 2016, the Russian Supreme Court confirmed this decision of the regional court. However, we believe that the liquidation of organizations Jehovah's Witnesses for extremism, persecution of members of their communities and bans texts have no legal basis at all and are a manifestation of religious discrimination.

Sources

• Message from Jehovah's Witnesses, January 23, 2019.