Security forces conducted at least 12 searches of Jehovah's Witnesses in two regions

Security forces came to search at least 12 addresses of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Amur and Penza regions. This was reported by the portal “Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia”.

On October 11, in the city of Nikolsk, Penza region, security forces conducted a search in four apartments. A criminal case was opened against one person, Yuri Kim, under the article on organizing the activities of a prohibited organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code), and he was given a written undertaking not to leave.

On October 13, at least 8 searches were carried out in the city of Zeya, Amur Region. Criminal cases were opened against two believers. Some of the searches took place as part of a criminalcase against believer Konstantin Moiseenko.

On October 15, the Investigative Committee for the Penza Region confirmed information about the initiation of a criminal case against Yuri Kim, and also stated that it was taking measures to “identify all participants in a religious organization” for prosecution under articles on organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and participation in it (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

On October 16, Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia spoke with one of the families who were searched in Nikolsk. This is a disabled man and his wife.

“Someone knocked on the door and wanted to break it down. I couldn't open it right away because my leg was amputated and some parts of my fingers were missing. It was hard for me to find my way,” said the believer.

“The man in camouflage began banging on the window frame with a tire iron, preparing to knock it out. I opened the door. 8 people entered the house. <…> They took personal photos, four Bibles (including the Synodal Translation, the Translation of Archimandrite Macarius and the Modern Translation), as well as the Evangelical Dictionary, personal notes on biblical topics, postcards, a foreign passport, even my personal poems about Jehovah,” - added his wife.

• 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 of the same year, all communities of Jehovah's Witnesses were added to the list of prohibited ones. After this, a stream of criminal cases against representatives of the confession began. *