Photo: search of believers (2016)
On November 21, 2018, in Nevinnomyssk (Stavropol Territory), starting at 6 a.m., 9 searches were conducted in the homes of citizens who are suspected of practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Computers and other electronic devices were seized from believers.
During one of the searches, a man, a disabled person of group I, was detained. During another search, spouses with a one-year-old child were detained. The child was left in the care of one of the relatives. During the interrogation, the 77-year-old believer required emergency medical attention. All those who were detained for questioning were released. It is not known whether a criminal case has been opened and what the believers are suspected of.
The searches in the homes of believers, which take place throughout Russia, were a direct consequence of the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of April 20, 2017, which imposed a ban on the activities of all registered legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses. The decision of the Supreme Court is appealed to the ECHR as a matter of priority. Meanwhile, dozens of human rights defenders, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, express concern about the growing religious repression.