Criminal cases have been initiated against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Sverdlovsk region, Moscow region and Khakassia

Criminal cases have been initiated against residents of the Sverdlovsk region , Moscow region and Khakassia in connection with the practice of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. This was reported on the official website of Russian followers of the doctrine.

Thus, in Karpinsk (Sverdlovsk region), security forces came with searches to believers Venera Dulova and her daughter, Daria, as well as to Alexander Pryanikov. All three had previously been sentenced to suspended sentences (up to 2.5 years) under the article on participation in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). Daria Dulova is the youngest of the persecuted Jehovah's Witnesses, she is 19 years old.

Now, as it has become known, a criminal case has been opened against them for involvement in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). They are charged with holding conversations about God with residents of Karpinsk. The search warrant was issued by Judge Svetlana Gabbasova, who had previously sentenced the believers. Searches were also carried out in neighboring Volchansk, but details are unknown.

Believers also report that a criminal case has been initiated against Jehovah's Witnesses in Khakassia. Six people were involved in the case; their names have not been released. In April 2019, security forces already conducted searches in the houses of two families from Abakan. A case was opened against one believer, Roman Baranovsky, under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code.

Information also appeared on the Jehovah's Witnesses website that Stepan Adamov, a resident of Chekhov near Moscow, is suspected of participating in an extremist organization. The decision to initiate the case states that he “interpreted the Bible and read a prayer to Jehovah God, explaining the religious concepts of the religious movement of the faith of Jehovah’s Witnesses, giving examples from life.” Five residents of Podolsk are accused of similar charges. One of them is in a pre-trial detention center, the rest are under house arrest.

• On April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court recognized the “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia” as an extremist organization, liquidated it and banned its activities in Russia. In August, all Jehovah's Witnesses organizations were added to the list of prohibited organizations. After this, a stream of criminal cases began.