Another criminal case has been opened against Jehovah's Witnesses in Kazan

On the morning of March 18, security forces conducted searches in the apartments of two families of Jehovah's Witnesses living in Kazan. The website “Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia” is about this.

reports A criminal case was opened against one of the believers, 41-year-old Alexei Gerasimov, under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist organization or participating in one (Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). According to available information, the case file contains a recording of the service, filmed by a hidden camera. Gerasimov was interrogated twice - at the Center for Countering Extremism, and also at the regional department of the Investigative Committee.

In the apartment where the search was carried out, Gerasimov lives with his wife, four children and 71-year-old mother. Security forces seized their electronic devices, bank cards and international passports. Two family members were questioned in connection with the criminal case.

On March 15, security forces at Vnukovo airport visited the spouses Sergei and Elena Gromov, also Jehovah's Witnesses from Kazan. The next day, their Kazan apartment was searched. At the moment, it is unknown in connection with what case the Gromovs were detained, and whether their detention is connected with the case against Gerasimov.

detained - In 2017, the Supreme Court "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" was an extremist organization, liquidated it and banned its activities in Russia. After this organization of Jehovah's Witnesses was included in the list of prohibited ones, criminal cases began against representatives of the confession. admitted contributed the flow