The prosecutor requested a fine of half a million rubles for Jehovah's Witnesses from Karelia

In Karelia, during court arguments, the prosecutor requested a fine in the form of a fine for Jehovah's Witness Alexei Smelov. This was reported on a website covering the persecution of believers.

At a meeting in the Kondopoga City Court, the prosecutor asked the court to impose a fine of 500 thousand rubles on the believer.

Smelov is accused under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). According to investigators, he organized the activities of the local division of the banned religious organization “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia” in Kondopoga, including by convening meetings, organizing propaganda activities and attracting new members.

The case against the believer, the father of three children, was opened in July 2019. A week later, FSB officers came to his home with a search, who initially introduced themselves as plumbers. During a search of the house, a computer system unit, a laptop, phones, tablets, flash drives and a Bible were seized. The believer’s car and workplace were also searched. He was given a written undertaking not to leave the place.

The basis for the case against Alexey Smelov was the reports of FSB officer Usoltsev. In the spring of 2019, the security officer recorded conversations with a believer, feigning interest in the Bible. Smelov considers the criminal case to be persecution for his faith.

“The charge brought against me calls religious services, preaching, saying prayers and transmitting religious symbols illegal activities. However, this grossly contradicts the clear provision of Art. 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation <...> In order to avoid criminal liability, should I renounce my religious beliefs or stop expressing them? But this is nothing more than discrimination,” the believer is quoted as saying on the website “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.”

• 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.