Chelyabinsk: another criminal case against a Jehovah's Witness

Valentina Suvorova, 71, has been charged with continuing the activities of an extremist organization.

On December 25, 2019, it became known that another case was initiated in Chelyabinsk under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (participation in the activities of an extremist organization). Valentina Suvorova, a 71-year-old follower of the Jehovah's Witnesses, became his defendant. She is currently under bail.

According to investigators, the believer "deliberately talked about faith with residents of the city of Chelyabinsk, sang songs, prayed to Jehovah God, and studied religious literature."

The accusation of Jehovah's Witnesses of involvement in the activities of a banned organization is due to the fact that in April 2017 the Supreme Court of Russia ruled to recognize the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and 395 of their local religious organizations as extremist. We believe that this decision had no legal basis and regard it as a manifestation of religious discrimination.

Sources

• In Chelyabinsk, a woman born in 1948 was charged. She “sang songs” and “prayed to Jehovah God.” Message from Jehovah's Witnesses. December 25, 2019