Jehovah's Witness convicted in Perm

Aleksei Metzger was sentenced to a fine.

November 14, 2019 Ordzhonikidzevsky District Court of Perm sentenced 44-year-old Jehovah's Witness Alexei Metzger to a fine of 350 thousand rubles under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (participation in activities of an extremist organization). The prosecutor's office demanded to sentence Metzger to three years in prison.

ABOUT initiating proceedings against Metzger became known in August 2019. According to believers, it was separated into a separate proceeding from the case of Alexander Solovyov, who in July this year was fined under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 for 300 thousand rubles. September 19 2019 the case was transferred to the court , a written undertaking not to leave was taken from the defendant.

Recall according to investigators, from July 17, 2017 to May 22, 2018 in Perm Metzger took part in the activities of the local community of Jehovah's Witnesses, namely "participated in the realization of the purposes directed to confession, and dissemination of faith, promoted the activities of a banned organization in public places and residential premises" and "committed other actions, aimed at holding and participating in such events.

accusation Jehovah's Witnesses in involvement in the activities of an extremist organization fact that in April 2017 the Supreme Court of Russia decided due to the on the recognition of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and 395 local religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses extremist. We believe that this a decision that entailed mass persecution of believers under Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code, not had legal grounds, and we regard it as a manifestation of religious discrimination.

Sources

• Maxim Anfalov. Another member of a banned sect convicted in Perm // URA.Ru. November 14, 2019