Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses were conducted at at least three addresses in Chuvashia

Security forces searched the homes of at least three Jehovah's Witnesses from Cheboksary and Novocheboksarsk. The press service of the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses reported this to OVD-Info.

The basis for the search was a criminal case about organizing extremist activities (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code) against Cheboksary resident Vladimir Dutkin. According to the community, one believer was detained for questioning, but later released. Equipment and personal records were confiscated from Jehovah's Witnesses.

As the press service notes, Chuvashia has become the 58th region in which Jehovah's Witnesses are being persecuted.

• 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 against representatives of the confession began.
• In February 2019, the court handed down the first verdict in the case of the activities of an extremist organization against a Jehovah's Witness with real imprisonment - Danish citizen Dennis Christensen was sentenced to six years in prison, his complaint was accepted for consideration by the ECHR. At least 13 believers have already received real sentences.
• According to estimates by the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia website, the number of people persecuted for involvement in this religion in the country has exceeded 400 people.