RUSSIA: Special bimonthly FORB Digest (15-30.11.2020)
30.11.20 – Another Jehovah’s Witness put under house arrest instead of detention
Moscow, November 30, Interfax – The Presnensky District Court of Moscow on Monday did not take into custody the fifth detained follower of the movement Jehovah’s Witnesses (banned in Russia).
27.11.20 – Fifth Jehovah’s witness still in police custody
Link to full text in Russian: https://www.m24.ru/news/sudy/27112020/143263
In Moscow, a court placed under house arrest three leaders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, which is considered extremist in Russia. Yet another defendant in the case had his term of detention extended. u
27.11.20 – Russian court releases Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow
Link to full text in Russian: https://www.jw-russia.org/cases/moscow.html#20201127
The Presnya district court of Moscow ordered the release from custody of another three believers: Vitaly Komarov, Ivan Chaikovsky, and Yury Chernyshev. A measure of restriction was chosen for all of them in the form of house arrest.
27.11.20 – After Yuriy Zalipayev acquittal, law enforcers raided peaceful believers across towns of Kabardino-Balkaria
Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/11/10.html
On November 12, 2020, armed officers of the FSB and the Investigative Committee roughly invaded at least six families of believers in the towns of Maiskiy and Tyrnyauz (Kabardino-Balkaria). Among the victims was the family of a believer, Yuriy Zalipaev, who was acquitted by the court only a month ago.
26.11.20 – Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid threatened pretrial imprisonment
Link to full text in Russian: https://www.m24.ru/news/sudy/27112020/143263
In Moscow, a court placed under house arrest three leaders of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization, which is considered extremist in Russia. Yet another defendant in the case had his term of detention extended.
26.11.20 – Jehovah’s Witnesses face pretrial detention in Moscow
Link to full text in Russian: https://rg.ru/2020/11/26/reg-cfo/sk-prosit-arestovat-chetveryh-rukovoditelej-centra-svidetelej-iegovy.html
Today the Presnya court of Moscow will consider the request of the Investigative Committee [S.K.R.] to detain in custody four supporters of the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which is banned in the R.F.
25.11.20 – Jehovah’s Witnesses being searched in Moscow. How will these affect European foreign ministers?
Link to full text in Russian: https://jw-russia.org/news/2020/11/8.html
On November 24, 2020, at least ten searches of believers took place in Moscow. Among the 4 detainees, 65-year-old Ivan Tchaikovsky, who is the applicant in the case Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow v. Russia.
25.11.20 – Jehovah’s Witnesses assess impact of latest raids
Link to full text in Russian: https://www.jw-russia.org/news/2020/11/8.html
On 24 November, in Moscow, at least ten searches were conducted in believers’ homes. Among the four persons arrested is 65-year-old Ivan Chaikovsky, who was the plaintiff in the case of “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow v. Russia.
24.11.20 – Major law enforcement move against Jehovah’s Witnesses based on Moscow
Link to full text in Russian: https://moscow.sledcom.ru/news/item/1517424/
The first department for investigation of especially important cases of crimes against persons and public safety of the Chief Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia [S.K.R.; analogous to American F.B.I.—tr.] for the city of Moscow opened a criminal case on the basis of evidence of crimes identified in parts 1, 1.1, and 2 of article 282.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (arranging the activity of an extremist organization).
23.11.20 – Protestants find amicable arrangement for their church building
Link to full text in Russian: https://tolknews.ru/obsestvo/46315
The church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Biisk on 19 November filed in the arbitration court of Altai Territory a lawsuit against the mayor’s office of the science city for two million rubles. The parties state that there is no conflict between them, but the suit is the only way to register the previously constructed church’s building as its property.
23.11.20 – Moscow patriarchate publishes Black List of disputed clerics
Link to full text in Russian: https://credo.press/234209/
The Moscow patriarchate has started composing a public list of “false priests, including schismatics,” who are conducting “illegal activity.” A corresponding department has appeared 19 November on the website of the Department for Relations of Church and Society and News Media of the Moscow patriarchate.
20.11.20 – Human rights organization publicizes repression of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Link to full text in Russian: https://www.zaprava.ru/obyski-u-svidetelej-iegovy-v-nizhnekamske-respublika-tatarstan-podrobnisti/
On 18 November, law enforcement personnel arrived to search at homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses (an organization ruled to be extremist in R.F.) living in the city of Nizhnekamsk in the republic of Tatarstan. On the website of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, details of what happened appeared.
19.11.20 – At long last, trials of four Jehovah’s Witnesses begin in Russian south
Link to full text in Russian: https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/356672/
Today a court in Rostov-on-Don extended simultaneously by six months the detention of Alexander Parkov, Vilen Avanesov, and Arsen Avanesov, who have already spent a year and a half in custody in a case concerning extremism.
18.11.20 – Russian Buddhists renew request for Dalai Lama’s visit
Link to full text in Russian: https://govoritmoskva.ru/news/253631/
The last time the spiritual leader was in Russia was 2004. After that, the foreign affairs ministry refused him a visit, citing the friendly relations with China and the shared common position on Tibet.
17.11.20 – Changes in religion law move forward
Link to full text in Russian: https://credo.press/234133/
The draft law on changes in the Russian law “On freedom of conscience and religious associations” is scheduled for adoption on first reading in December and amendments for the second reading should “remove the concern of religious organizations because of the provision of the requirement of retraining clergy in Russia.
16.11.20 – Russian authorities conduct another typical intervention with Jehovah’s Witnesses
Link to full text in Russian: https://lipetsk.sledcom.ru/news/item/1515478/
An investigator of the first department for investigation of especially important cases of the investigation department of the Investigative Committee of Russia [S.K.R.] for Lipetsk oblast opened five criminal cases against local residents, ranging in age from 42 to 67, on the basis of materials provided by the directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs [M.V.D.] and the directorate of the F.S.B. of Russia for Lipetsk oblast.