In Yakutia, mass searches in the homes of believers

On June 30 and July 1, 2018, in the city of Lensk (Yakutia), police raids were conducted in 8 homes of local citizens who are suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. After the searches, 22 people were taken to the police station, 15 people were interrogated. A criminal case was initiated against 42-year-old Igor Ivashin under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and a written undertaking not to leave was taken from him.

The searches were carried out by employees of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), including Andrey Romanenko and Andrey Myreev. During the interrogations, the investigators claimed that the citizens had been under surveillance for more than six months.

Russian law enforcement officers mistakenly mistake the joint religion of citizens for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. The Human Rights Council under the President of Russia drew attention to this problem: "Accusations of citizens that they read the Bible together and pray to God are interpreted as "continuation of the activities of an extremist organization." The Council considers that such an interpretation is inconsistent with the legal position of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation ... This cannot but cause concern, since criminal prosecutions and arrests have become systemic."

What is happening in Lensk is of great concern to Jehovah's Witnesses around the world. The last time such close attention of believers was to this city was 17 years ago, after the devastating flood of 2001, during which three families of Jehovah's Witnesses lost their homes and many others suffered. They and other victims were assisted by their fellow believers from all over Russia through the nearby town of Mirny (Yakutia).