RUSSIA: Special Bimonthly FORB Digest (01-16.07.2020)

15.07.20 – In the Tomsk Region, there were five searches of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/16.html

In the morning of 14 July 2020, the Investigation Committee and FSB conducted searches in the town of Seversk. Ten men and women were taken to the security services for interrogation.

14.07.20- Caution, the doors are about to be kicked in! More and more house searches of believers.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/14.html

The number of searches of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia continues to increase after the April 2017 Supreme Court decision. By mid-July 2020, more than 1000 home invasions of these law-abiding citizens had already been recorded.

13.07.20 – In the Moscow region, law enforcers searched the apartment of a 70-year-old woman after her grandson told the military committee about his faith.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/12.html

July 7, 2020 in the city of Likino-Dulevo, Moscow region law enforcement officers invaded the apartment of 20-year-old Kirill Leonov and his grandmother. After the search, Kirill was interrogated for 2 hours at the police department about his faith.

13.07.20 – In Kaliningrad, the FSB detained at least 12 people for interrogation.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/11.html

On July 11th in Kaliningrad, armed security services conducted a series of searches of believers. At least 12 people were taken to the FSB department in Kaliningrad for interrogation. A criminal case has been initiated against Mikhail Kopytov, 52. Whether anyone remains in custody is still unknown.

13.07.20 – A wave of searches of believers in the Kemerovo Region. At least one person with disability was detained for 48 hours

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/9.html

On July 12, 2020, FSB officers conducted searches of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Prokopievsk. Andrei Vlasov, 51, who has a disability, was detained for 2 days and is in an isolation ward in Kemerovo. The news is being updated.

11.07.20 – Dennis Christensen has been released from a special punishment block after being held there for 15 days.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/8.html

On July 11, 2020, the 15-day arrest period of Dennis Christensen, who was sent to a punishment cell on fabricated charges, came to an end. He is in good spirits. His defense team plans to appeal his fine and hope to achieve commutation of the sanctions imposed on him.

9.07.20 – The prosecutor’s request includes seven years of corrective penal colony for Yevgeniy Spirin, despite an obvious fabrication of charges.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/7.html

On July 9, 2020, the prosecutor demanded to sentence 34-year-old Yevgeny Spirin to 7 years of colony, baselessly considering religious conversations extremist.

08.07.20 – Vladimir Alushkin may be placed under arrest for the third time. Cassation Court will review the appeal decision to overturn the sentence.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/5.html

On July 9, 2020, the First Cassation Court of the Saratov Jurisdiction will be holding a hearing to review a complaint from the Prosecutor’s Office. The complaint objects to the Appeals Court’s overturned conviction of Vladimir Alushkin, a worshiper from the city of Penza. Depending on the Cassation Court’s decision, Alushkin may be placed into custody once again.

06.07.20 – In Krasnodar Region two more local residents prosecuted for their faith. They are accused of preaching.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/4.html

Almost 2 months after the searches in the village of Pavlovskaya, officers of the Federal Security Service of Russia in Krasnodar region initiated criminal proceedings against two more believers: 58-year-old Vladimir Skachidub and 39-year-old Maxim Beltikov.

02.07.20 – A new wave of searches in the District of Primorye, where 12 cases against worshipers are underway.

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/3.html

On July 2, 2020, starting at 8 a.m., searches began in at least six families of Jehovah’s Witnesses from the village of Tavrichanka. Three believers were known to have been taken away for questioning. The searches were authorized by Marina Gerasimova, judge of the Nadezhda district court.

02.07.20 – What did the prison and prosecutor’s office do to prevent the Danish believer Dennis Christenen from going free?

Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/07/2.html

On June 26, 2020, the Lgov prison authorities illegally placed Dennis Christensen in a cell of a special punishment block (EPKT), typically used for malicious offenders.