Three Jehovah's Witnesses were detained in Solikamsk after searches and interrogations

A criminal case has been initiated on the continuation of the activities of the banned community.

On July 28, 2020, searches took place in Solikamsk, Perm Territory at three addresses of Jehovah's Witnesses, five believers were taken for interrogation. Six people were detained.

The searches were carried out as part of a criminal investigation. according to part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization). The status of a suspect in the case was given to 51-year-old Vladimir Timoshkin, who, together with 58-year-old Vladimir Poltoratnev, was sent to a temporary detention center. Later, Poltoradnev was placed under house arrest. On September 24, 2020, the court replaced the one and a half day preventive measure with a ban on certain actions. On October 26, the court replaced house arrest with a ban on certain actions and Timoshkin.

Recognition decision Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and 395 local communities extremist was accepted by the Supreme Court of Russia in April 2017. We believe that this decision, which entailed a massive persecution of believers under Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code, had no legal basis, and We regard it as a manifestation of religious discrimination.

Sources

• Raid on believers in Solikamsk. After interrogations, the three men were left in the detention center. Message from Jehovah's Witnesses. 2020. July 28.
• The believers detained in Solikamsk were released from the detention center. The court sent two men under house arrest, another is under a ban on certain actions. Message from Jehovah's Witnesses. 2020. July 31.
• The court in Solikamsk released Vladimir Timoshkin from house arrest, forbidding the believer to leave the city. Message from Jehovah's Witnesses. 2020. October 30.