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In the Town of Kodinsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained After a Search
Krasnoyarsk TerritoryEarly on the morning of July 20, 2021 law enforcement officers conducted searches in Kodinsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, at least five locations where Jehovah's Witnesses reside. According to preliminary data, one person was detained. Electronic devices were confiscated from peaceful believers.
Searches involving local FSB officers were authorized by R. I. Rogov, senior investigator of Investigative Division for Kezhemsky region of the Investigative Committee of RF for Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia.
The town of Kodinsk became the eighth settlement in Krasnoyarsk Territory where law enforcement officers persecute peaceful believers only because of their religion. Criminal cases were filed against 16 Jehovah's Witnesses there, and Andrey Stupnikov from Krasnoyarsk was sentenced to six years in prison for meeting with fellow believers and talking about the Bible.
Criminal prosecution of adherents of this religion violates Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which guarantees freedom of religion for all. It also contradicts the official commentary of the Government of the Russian Federation, according to which the decision of the Supreme Court of April 20, 2017 "does not assess the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses."