Religious persecution and issues – Bimonthly Digest November 01-15
15.11.2024 – In Nizhny Novgorod, following the results of public hearings, the diocese refused to build a temple
Sova – On November 12, 2024, it became known that the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese refused to build a temple on Hero Smirnov Street in the Avtozavodsky district of the city.
The city authorities issued a permit to the diocese to build on this site, but local residents opposed the neighborhood with the temple. The issue of construction was brought to public hearings, most of the participants of which did not support this idea.
The diocese noted that “the choice of a place for the construction of the temple is an important decision, which is made with the consent of all interested parties”.
14.11.2024 – The case of Jehovah’s Witness from Razdolny was sent to court in Crimea
Sova – On November 14, 2024, the GSU of the Investigative Committee for Crimea and Sevastopol announced the completion of the investigation into the case of 68-year-old Jehovah’s Witness Tamara Bratseva. Criminal case initiated against her under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization), referred to the court.
According to the investigation, from September 2021 to August 2024, she, “being the organizer of the cell of the village. Razdolnoye, continued its active activities by holding meetings via videoconference, where with the participation of followers she promoted the ideas of a banned religious organization and the study of extremist materials, attracting new participants”.
13.11.2024 – Aleksandr Lubin died elderly man with disability has gone through pre-trial detention center, investigation and Court in three years
JW – On November 11, 2024, Aleksandr Lubin, convicted in the case of extremism, died at the age of 68. The disabled person was kept in a pre-trial detention center for almost a month and released only after the intervention of the ECHR, it was difficult for him to go to every court hearing, and after the verdict his condition became critical.
In July 2021, Aleksandr Lubin was arrested and sent to custody. Even then, according to the medical certificates provided, his detention in a pre-trial detention center posed a real danger to his life. So, he had a serious vascular disease, hypertension and an autoimmune disease that affected various organs. He needed to receive humidified oxygen every day for 16 hours, which was not provided in the pre-trial detention center. Lubin’s lawyers filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, which was satisfied: 20 days later, the man was releasedfrom the pre-trial detention center.
13.11.2024 – In Surgut, students complain about the ban on praying at the university
Sova – On November 8, 2024, it became known about the complaints of Islamic students of Surgut State University that the university management does not allow them to pray in the university building.
According to Muslim students, a year earlier they asked the administration to allocate a room for them to pray, but were refused with reference to the fact that the university was secular.
“We were told: “Pray at home, outside the university walls”. But some of us pray five times a day, as it should be. At least two prayers of them fall on school hours. That’s the problem,” said one of the students.
08.11.2024 – The State Prosecutor requested punishment for Jehovah’s Witness from Sakhalin
Sova – On November 5, 2024, the Korsakov City Court of the Sakhalin Region held a debate of the parties in the case of Jehovah’s Witness Roman Gumenyuk, who is accused of involvement in an extremist organization (ch. 1.1 Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code) and participation in it (part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code). The state prosecutor asked to sentence the believer to five years of imprisonment in a general regime colony with an additional punishment in the form of a year of restriction of liberty.
08.11.2024 – Russian State Duma representative in Berdiansk gave advice on dealing with “sectarians”
Risu – Representatives of the occupation authorities claim that Western countries allegedly built an intelligence network through religious organizations and conducted “extremist sectarian activities.”
“The leadership of certain organizations went as far as to demand that their parishioners adjust the fire of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from infrastructure facilities, such as the airfield in Melitopol. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses (an organization recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) were active in large settlements of the Zaporizhzhia region. A number of other organizations pursued the policy of foreign special services and governments in the region, and some pastors had American citizenship,” the article says.
08.11.2024 – A Catholic priest was expelled from Sochi
Sova – On November 8, 2024, it became known that on September 26, the Central District Court of Sochi found the former vicar (assistant to the rector) of the Sochi Catholic parish of the apostles Simon and Thaddey Vladislav Klots guilty under Part 5 of Art. 5.26 of the Administrative Code (implementation of missionary activity by a foreign citizen in violation of the requirements of the legislation on freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and religious associations).
07.11.2024 – Another case against the Jehovah’s Witness was opened in Vyselki, Krasnodar Krai
Sova – Earlier, 15 more residents of Vyselok were prosecuted.
On November 6, 2024, the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Krasnodar Territory reported that the Korenovsky Interdistrict Investigation Department initiated a case under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (participation in the activities of an extremist organization) against a resident of the Vyselkovsky district – Jehovah’s Witness.
06.11.2024 – In Novogireev, the conflict over the construction of the temple in the square has resumed
Sova – On November 1, 2024, it became known that residents of the Moscow districts of Perovo and Novogireevo were again protesting against the construction of a temple in the square on Zeleny Prospekt.
The conflict has been going on for many years. Opponents of construction emphasize that they do not object to the appearance of a new temple in the area, but categorically disagree with the construction of even part of the “Afghan” square.
04.11.2024 – Appeal upheld suspended sentence for teacher from Tolyatti for reading Bible
JW- On November 1, 2024, the Samara Regional Court upheld the sentence of 63-year-old Galina Komissarova: 2 years suspended. The prosecutor insisted on a real term for a pensioner from Tolyatti.
Speaking before the appeals panel of judges, Galina Komissarova expressed her disagreement with the accusation: “I only participated in worship services that do not contain signs of extremism and, therefore, are not a crime … I have only a sense of pain and regret for the injustice of the grave accusation brought against me.” Galina considers what is happening to her to be political repression.
05.11.2024 – A Jehovah’s Witness, accused under Art. 282.2 UK
Sova – On November 4, 2024, it became known about the death of a resident of St. Petersburg Viktor Lapitsky, who was accused under Part 1 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of an extremist organization) in connection with involvement in Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A criminal case against the believer was initiated on June 8, 2023. IN SEBT 2023, he was detained and placed in a temporary detention center for a day. Subsequently, the court imposed a preventive measure on him in the form of house arrest. The details of the criminal case and the cause of the death of Jehovah’s Witness are unknown.
02.11.2024 – Religious belief as an existential threat
Canopyforum – Russia counts more than 200 ethnic groups among its more than 140 million population. According to a 2024 Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) census, 62 per cent of Russians identify as Orthodox Christians, 3 per cent as other Christians, 9 per cent as Muslims, 21 per cent as nonreligious and 4 per cent as unsure of their beliefs. Other religious minority groups present in the country include Baha’is, Falun Gong practitioners, Scientologists, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tengrists, followers of indigenous religious, and believers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Among religious minority groups, Muslims are the largest religious minority with an estimated 25 million adherents, followed by 1 million Buddhists, 2 million Protestants, 600,000 Catholics and a Jewish population ranging between 250,000 and 1 million adherents.