In the Oryol Region, Searches, Arrest and a Criminal Case Under the Article Extremism Against Jehovah's Witnesses

On May 25, 2017, in the city of Oryol, at least 15 armed men, including FSB officers, entered the house where local Jehovah's Witnesses were located. Law enforcement officers reported that a criminal case had been opened under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (continuation of the activities of an organization that was banned for extremism). One of the believers was arrested. The passport data of all those present were rewritten, explanatory notes were taken, tablets were seized. The men were taken to the FSB building, where some of them were held until the next morning. Searches were conducted in several homes of believers.

It is known that a criminal case was initiated against at least one of the believers, Dennis Christensen, a foreign citizen. He was arrested and held in the FSB building.