Two more cases have been opened against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Krasnodar Territory

In the village of Pavlovskaya (Krasnodar Territory), two more criminal cases have been opened against Jehovah's Witnesses, reports a website covering the persecution of believers.

Cases were opened against Maxim Beltikov and Vladimir Skachidub under the article on participation in the activities of a banned extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). On June 29, they were interrogated by the investigative committee and released on their own recognizance. On June 30, Skachidub’s wife, who has a group II disability, was summoned for questioning.

The site provides quotes from decisions on the initiation of criminal cases against believers: “...participated in religious educational classes and sermons, during which... he conducted and listened to lectures based on religious literature, entered into conversations and religious discussions, participated in a collective discussion of the contents of religious books "

• In total, six criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses in the Krasnodar region are currently known . In addition to Maxim Beltikov and Vladimir Skachidub, the authorities are persecuting Lyudmila Shchekoldina, Nikolai Kuzichkin, Alexander Ivshin and Vyacheslav Popov because of their religious beliefs.
• In April 2017, the Supreme Court recognized the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia as an extremist organization and banned its activities throughout the country. In August, all communities of Jehovah's Witnesses were added to the list of prohibited ones.
• OVD-Info talked about the life of followers of Jehovah's Witnesses under the ban and how they are persecuted.