USCIRF Recognizes One of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia as a Prisoner of Conscience

On September 26, 2018, Christina Arriaga, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), announced the inclusion of Dennis Christensen, who has been in a Russian prison for almost a year and a half for his faith, on the organization's list of "Religious Prisoners of Conscience." The list is intended to focus the Commission's work on the release of specific prisoners and to draw attention to their plight and the general state of religious freedom in their countries.

The Commission's official press release states: "Dennis Christensen was arrested in Oryol on 25 May 2017 following an attack on a prayer service in which he was participating. As of September 13, 2018, Christensen has appeared 38 times before the Oryol District Court. He faces up to 10 years in prison. [...] In April 2017, Russia's Supreme Court declared Jehovah's Witnesses an extremist organization and banned its activities."

"However, these religious groups only seek to practice their views peacefully and without fear," the press release also says.- At the time of his arrest, Dennis was reading the Bible with his fellow believers. The international community must uphold internationally recognized human rights and press for the release of... Dennis and many other citizens imprisoned in Russia for their religious beliefs and activities."

In 2018, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom listed Russia as a "Country of Particular Concern." According to the Commission's regulations, these are countries whose governments commit systematic, persistent and egregious violations of religious freedom.