Security forces came to Jehovah's Witnesses after a request from the military registration and enlistment office for alternative service

On July 7, 2020, in Likino-Dulevo, Moscow region, security forces, including an employee of Center “E,” came to Jehovah’s Witness Kirill Leonov. This was reported by the press service of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

Leonov’s 70-year-old grandmother was also in the apartment during the security forces’ visit. Law enforcement officers asked an elderly woman about her grandson’s faith.

As a result of the inspection of the premises, electronic equipment and storage media were confiscated from Leonov and his grandmother, including a disc with a recording of the wedding of the sister of Jehovah's Witnesses.

At the end of the examination, Leonov was taken for questioning to the police department, where he was kept for 2 hours.

According to the press service, the security forces came for the inspection because of Leonov’s visit to the military registration and enlistment office. A follower of a religious movement asked for the opportunity to perform alternative service because of his religion. The military registration and enlistment office provided Center “E” with information that the conscript considered himself a Jehovah’s Witness.

• 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.