[{"body":"How many people were repressed for their faith in 2020? As of December 30, 2020, 427 followers of Jehovah's Witnesses are officially in the status of accused, suspected, indicted, convicted, or acquitted. Of these, 146 learned of criminal prosecution in 2020. (In 2019, the number was 213.) The total number of criminal cases brought was 188 (most often 2 or more defendants in one criminal case).\nWhat is the geographic scope of religious repression as of the end of 2020? Criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses have already been opened in 60 Regions, Territories, republics, Autonomous Regions, and Cities of Federal Significance. In 2020, cases were opened in 8 new regions of Russia. (In 2019, the number was 21.)\nHow many convictions for faith were handed down in 2020, and how many of them went into effect. As of December 30, 2020, 59 men and women were convicted for their faith in the past 2 years. During 2020, 39 people were convicted under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to various penalties by the trial courts. (In 2019, the figure was 18.) Of these, 21 people are still waiting for an appeal decision. For 23 believers during 2020, appeal hearings were held and sentences went into effect. (In 2019, the number was 10.) In some cases, sentences were reduced or increased, but most were unchanged.\nHow many Jehovah's Witnesses have passed through temporary detention facilities, pre-trial detention centers, or penal colonies, and how many are still being held there. A total of 221 believers have been sent behind bars since May 2017. During 2020, 49 believers were placed in pre-trial detention (SIZO), and another 23 spent a few days each in a TDF, but they were given a non-custodial measure of restraint. Thus, during the year, 72 believers ended up in detention. (In 2019, the figure was 84.) As of December 30, 2020, 46 people remain behind bars, including 36 in pre-trial detention facilities and 10 in penal colonies.\nVladimir and Tatyana Alushkin Felix Makhammadiyev, March 2020 The family meets Gennadiy Shpakovsky at the exit from the pre-trial detention center Lyudmila Shut in the courtroom, September 2020 Yuriy Zalipaev in the courtroom Yuriy Savelyev in the courtroom, Novosibirsk, 2020 The security forces are storming the apartment of believers. Moscow, November 2020. Photo source: Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Vardan Zakaryan after the session of the Presnensky District Court, Moscow, November 30, 2020 Dennis Christensen in a prison cell for visits during a meeting with a lawyer. Lgov. September 8, 2020 Natalia and Sergey Britvin, Vadim and Tatyana Levchuk, Berezovsky, September 2020 How many searches have been conducted in the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses? Since the ban on registered Jehovah's Witnesses took effect, a total of 1,274 searches have been conducted in their homes. Of these, 477 searches were conducted in 2020. (In 2019, the number was 489.) A search is a significant restriction of a person's constitutional right to liberty and security of person, privacy, personal and family secrets, honor, and good name.\nChronicle of the incursions into the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in 2020:\n01/19/2020 Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan): 4 searches were conducted. 01/21/2020 Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan): 1 search was conducted. 01/22/2020 Razdolnoye (Primorye Territory): 6 searches carried out. 01/24/2020 Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan): 1 search was conducted. 01/28/2020 Pechora (Komi Republic): 12 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Darasun resort (Trans-Baikal Territory): 1 search was conducted. 02/10/2020 Chita (Trans-Baikal Territory): 23 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Pervomaisky (Trans-Baikal Territory): 1 search was conducted. 02/10/2020 Verkhnyaya Hila (Trans-Baikal Territory): 1 search was conducted. 02/10/2020 Baley (Trans-Baikal Territory): 3 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Amazar (Trans-Baikal Territory): 4 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Duldurga (Trans-Baikal Territory): 1 search was conducted. 02/10/2020 Yasnogorsk (Trans-Baikal Territory): 6 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Khilok (Trans-Baikal Territory): 4 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Krasnokamensk (Trans-Baikal Territory): 4 searches carried out. 02/10/2020 Novopavlovsk (Stavropol Territory): 1 search was conducted. 02/12/2020 Stavropol (Stavropol Territory): 1 search was conducted. 02/13/2020 Yalta (Republic of Crimea): 1 search was conducted. 03/06/2020 Kizlyar (Republic of Dagestan): 1 search was conducted. 03/23/2020 Khabarovsk (Khabarovsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 03/24/2020 Luchegorsk (Primorye Territory): 4 searches were conducted. 03/30/2020 Karpinsk (Sverdlovsk Region): 3 searches carried out. 04/11/2020 Teikovo (Ivanovo Region): 5 searches were conducted. 04/28/2020 Starokorsunskaya (Krasnodar Territory): 1 search was conducted. 04/29/2020 Kholmskaya (Krasnodar Territory): 5 searches carried out. 04/29/2020 Pavlovskaya (Krasnodar Territory): 5 searches carried out. 05/12/2020 Lesozavodsk (Primorye Territory): 4 searches were conducted. 05/19/2020 Lesozavodsk (Primorye Territory): 3 searches were conducted. 05/20/2020 Maisky (Kabardino-Balkaria Republic): 5 searches carried out. 05/21/2020 Lesozavodsk (Primorye Territory): 1 search was conducted. 05/21/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 2 searches carried out. 05/22/2020 Komsomolsk-on-Amur (Khabarovsk Territory): 2 searches carried out. 05/26/2020 Kerch (Republic of Crimea): 5 searches were conducted. 05/27/2020 Vyazemsky (Khabarovsk Territory): 5 searches carried out. 05/27/2020 Khabarovsk (Khabarovsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 06/02/2020 Vlasikha (Moscow Region): 5 searches carried out. 06/09/2020 Astrakhan (Astrakhan region): 27 searches carried out. 06/18/2020 Nazarovo (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 12 searches carried out. 06/22/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 2 searches were conducted. 06/23/2020 Goluboy Bay (Republic of Crimea): 2 searches carried out. 07/02/2020 Tavrichanka (Primorye Territory): 6 searches were conducted. 07/07/2020 Likino-Dulevo (Moscow Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/07/2020 Vyazemsky (Khabarovsk Territory): 2 searches carried out. 07/09/2020 Vladivostok (Primorye Territory): 7 searches were conducted. 07/11/2020 Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad Region): 7 searches were conducted. 07/12/2020 Prokopyevsk (Kemerovo Region): 4 searches carried out. 07/13/2020 Voronezh (Voronezh Region): 64 searches carried out. 07/13/2020 Ramon (Voronezh Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/13/2020 Liski (Voronezh Region): 2 searches carried out. 07/13/2020 Semiluki (Voronezh Region): 3 searches carried out. 07/13/2020 Stary Oskol (Belgorod Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/13/2020 Borisoglebsk (Voronezh Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/13/2020 Maslovsky (Voronezh Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/13/2020 Pavlovsk (Voronezh Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/13/2020 Novovoronezh (Voronezh Region): 1 search was conducted. 07/14/2020 Seversk (Tomsk Region): 6 searches conducted. 07/15/2020 Zvezdny (Kabardino-Balkarian Republic): 1 search was conducted. 07/23/2020 Surgut (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug): 1 search was conducted. 07/28/2020 Solikamsk (Perm Territory): 3 searches were conducted. 08.08.2020 Rostov-on-Don (Rostov Region): 1 search was conducted. 08.08.2020 Gukovo (Rostov Region): 16 searches carried out. 08.08.2020 Kursk (Kursk region): 2 searches carried out. 08/10/2020 Nevinnomyssk (Stavropol Territory): 2 searches carried out. 08/18/2020 Partizansk (Primorye Territory): 1 search was conducted. 08/19/2020 Yugorsk (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area): 8 searches were conducted. 08/19/2020 Sovetskiy (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area): 1 search was conducted. 08/24/2020 Pechora (Komi Republic): 12 searches carried out. 08/27/2020 Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan): 1 search was conducted. 09/03/2020 Vyazemsky (Khabarovsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 09/04/2020 Yelets (Lipetsk Region): 2 searches conducted. 09/05/2020 Pechora (Komi Republic): 1 search was conducted. 09/15/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 09/24/2020 Blagoveshchensk (Amur Region): 1 search was conducted. 01.10.2020 Sevastopol (Republic of Crimea): 9 searches were conducted. 06.10.2020 Solnechnodolsk (Stavropol Territory): 1 search was conducted. 10 /11/2020 Nikolsk (Penza Region): 4 searches were conducted. 10/13/2020 Zeya (Amur Region): 8 searches were conducted. 10/19/2020 Berezovsky (Sverdlovsk Region): 5 searches carried out. 10/22/2020 Sovetskaya Gavan (Khabarovsk Territory): 2 searches carried out. 10/29/2020 Vyazemsky (Khabarovsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 11/ 11/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 2 searches were conducted. 11/ 12/2020 Maisky (Kabardino-Balkaria Republic): 1 search was conducted. 11/12/2020 Tyrnyauz (Kabardino-Balkaria Republic): 6 searches conducted. 11/12/2020 Cherkessk (Karachay-Cherkess Republic): 1 search was conducted. 11/16/2020 Gryazi (Lipetsk Region): 9 searches carried out. 11/18/2020 Nizhnekamsk (Republic of Tatarstan): 12 searches were conducted. 11/ 19/2020 Nizhnekamsk (Republic of Tatarstan): 1 search was conducted. 11/24/2020 Moscow (Moscow): 20 searches carried out. 11/27/2020 Cheboksary (Chuvash Republic): 5 searches carried out. 11/27/2020 Novocheboksarsk (Chuvash Republic): 2 searches carried out. 11/27/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 11/28/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 11/30/2020 Snezhinsk (Chelyabinsk Region): 4 searches were conducted. 02.12.2020 Kholmskaya (Krasnodar Territory): 2 searches carried out. 12/09/2020 Oryol (Oryol Region): 8 searches were conducted. 12/11/2020 Krasnoyarsk (Krasnoyarsk Territory): 1 search was conducted. 12/21/2020 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Kamchatka Territory): 1 search was conducted. 12/21/2020 Lermontovka (Khabarovsk Territory): 4 searches carried out. 12/21/2020 Bikin (Khabarovsk Territory): 5 searches carried out. 12/24/2020 Kirsanov (Tambov Region): 20 searches carried out. 12/24/2020 Lukhovitsy (Moscow Region): 1 search was conducted. 12/25/2020 Chita (Trans-Baikal Territory): 1 search was conducted. Which international organizations came out in defense of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses in 2020?\nOn March 12, 2020, 27 European Union (EU) states issued a statement calling on Russia to stop repressing Jehovah's Witnesses. Six other non-EU countries joined the statement.\nOn May 6, 2020, the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted a decision concerning 18 believers in Russia. The group deemed the cases against them illegal and recommended their immediate release.\nOn July 23, 2020, 30 OSCE member states issued a statement harshly criticizing the Russian repression of Jehovah's Witnesses.\nOn October 1, 2020, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (the body that oversees how countries execute ECtHR judgments) issued a decision noting the repeated failure of the Russian Federation to implement the final judgment in the case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow v. Russia. The Committee of Ministers pointed out that the 2017 Supreme Court decision concerning Jehovah's Witnesses effectively nullified earlier progress in the case, creating a legal basis for the repetition of violations that the European Court had previously assessed and found unlawful.\nEarlier condemnations of the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia included:\nУполномоченный по правам человека в РФ, Совет по правам человека при Президенте РФ, Президент РФ, видные общественные деятели России, внешнеполитическая служба Евросоюза, наблюдатели Парламентской ассамблеи Совета Европы, Рабочая группа по произвольным задержаниям ООН, Управление Верховного комиссара ООН по правам человека. The Russian government has repeatedly stated that decisions of Russian courts to liquidate and ban Jehovah's Witnesses organizations \"do not assess the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses and do not contain restrictions or prohibitions on the individual practice of the above-mentioned doctrine.\"\n","category":"analytics","date":"2020-12-30T17:18:00+03:00","duration":null,"image":{"jpg":"/news/2020/12/11/image_hu_6e824854a7e195a4.jpg","jpg2x":"/news/2020/12/11/image_hu_a0edc9c3ff7dcd03.jpg","webp":"/news/2020/12/11/image_hu_d07e38f46596a544.webp","webp2x":"/news/2020/12/11/image_hu_a8c58fff6371606a.webp"},"permalink":"/en/news/2020/12/11.html","regions":["moscow"],"subtitle":null,"tags":["analytics","review","statistics","international","human-rights-defenders","human-right-organizations","commissioner-rf","presidential-council","pace","eu"],"title":"Jehovah's Witnesses Under the Yoke of Repression: Results of 2020","type":"news"},{"body":"On February 7, 2019, observers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expressed serious concern about the verdict against Dennis Christensen. They stated: \"The accusation and imprisonment of Christensen only for confessing his faith is an unacceptable violation of the right to freedom of religion.\"\n\"The speakers expressed the hope that Christensen's conviction would be overturned by the decision of the Court of Appeal and called on the Russian authorities to release him while the appeal is pending.\"\nThe observers recalled that the European Court of Human Rights had previously defended the right of Jehovah's Witnesses to conduct religious activities without interference from the Russian authorities. In addition, PACE itself has previously expressed concern about the abuse of the law on countering extremism by the Russian authorities. Thus, on April 21, 2017, PACE issued a statement stating, among other things: \"The recent decision of the Supreme Court to declare the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Russian Federation an extremist organization and to close it and 395 local religious organizations of the Witnesses raises serious concerns about religious freedom in Russia, and also serves as another example of how anti-extremist legislation is used to suppress freedom of expression opinions and peaceful assemblies\" (source).\n","category":"rights","date":"2019-02-13T20:44:34+03:00","duration":null,"image":{"jpg":"/news/2019/02/612/plenary_chamber_of_the_council_of_europes_palace_of_europe_2014_01_hu_265297661933db31.jpg","jpg2x":"/news/2019/02/612/plenary_chamber_of_the_council_of_europes_palace_of_europe_2014_01.jpg","webp":"/news/2019/02/612/plenary_chamber_of_the_council_of_europes_palace_of_europe_2014_01_hu_2cd57d2673c409d8.webp","webp2x":"/news/2019/02/612/plenary_chamber_of_the_council_of_europes_palace_of_europe_2014_01_hu_511d07dc4b5e81bf.webp"},"permalink":"/en/news/2019/02/612.html","regions":["france"],"subtitle":null,"tags":["eu","pace","echr","liberty-deprivation"],"title":"PACE observers called for Christensen's release without waiting for an appeal","type":"news"},{"body":"The only basis for all accusations of \"extremism\" against Jehovah's Witnesses — the Federal List of Extremist Materials — can be revoked. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on Russia to do so in its Recommendation of August 25, 2017.\nThe UN Committee is concerned about the unclear definition of extremist activity and the lack of clear criteria by which materials can be classified as extremist, which is used against vulnerable segments of the population.\nThe international community unanimously condemned the accusations of extremism and the ban imposed by a Russian court on Jehovah's Witnesses organizations. This is evident from the following official statements.\nJoint statement by the 28 member states of the European Union, as well as 11 other states, including Australia, Canada and NorwayJuly 21, 2017 (source) \"On July 17, the Russian Supreme Court upheld a decision to liquidate all legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, cease their activities and confiscate property on charges of \"extremist activity.\" The decision confirms the ban on the peaceful worship of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the country. This ban has already led to cases of criminal prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as police raids on their prayer halls. It has contributed to an atmosphere of hatred and bullying, which has led to arson attacks and other forms of harassment. Jehovah's Witnesses, like all followers of religious groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as by Russia's international obligations and international human rights standards.\"\nFederal Republic of Germany. German Foreign OfficeJuly 19, 2017 (source) \"We are concerned by the approval of the court decision to ban the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. Thus, despite our attempts at persuasion at all levels, the peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of religion and thought has become punishable.\"\nUnited States of America. U.S. Department of StateJuly 19, 2017 (source) \"The Russian Supreme Court's decision against Jehovah's Witnesses this week is the latest in a disturbing trend of persecution of religious minorities. We call on the Russian authorities to lift the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, lift the closure of the Jehovah's Witnesses Administrative Center, and release all members of religious minorities who continue to be unjustly detained for so-called 'extremist' activities.\"\nUnited Kingdom. Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeJuly 18, 2017 (source) \"We are deeply concerned that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation rejected the appeal of Jehovah's Witnesses against the decision that labeled them \"extremists\". This ruling criminalizes the religious activities of more than 175,000 Russian citizens and contravenes the right to religious freedom that is protected by the Russian Constitution.\"\nEuropean Union. European External Action ServiceJuly 18, 2017 (source) \"Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as by Russia's international commitments and international human rights standards.\"\nUnited States of America. U.S. Commission on International Religious FreedomJuly 17, 2017 (source) \"Unfortunately, the Supreme Court's decision demonstrates the government's continued attempts to equate those who peacefully exercise the right to religious freedom with extremists. Jehovah's Witnesses are not an extremist group and should be able to practice their religion openly, freely and without pressure from the authorities.\"\nFederal Republic of Germany. German Chancellor Angela MerkelMay 2, 2017 (source) \"I... asked Mr. President to exert his influence to ensure the preservation of the rights of minorities. This also applies to Jehovah's Witnesses.\"\nOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human RightsApril 25, 2017 (source) \"I am concerned about the unjustified criminalization of the peaceful activities of members of the Jehovah's Witnesses communities in Russia, the liquidation of this community in the country. This Supreme Court decision poses a threat to the values and principles on which democratic, free, open, pluralistic and tolerant societies are founded.\"\nOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for Combating Racism, Xenophobia and DiscriminationApril 25, 2017 (source) \"This ban, the persecution of peaceful people for mere worship, clearly violates the fundamental right to freedom of religion, and with it international human rights standards guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, so it needs to be reviewed as soon as possible.\"\nParliamentary Assembly of the Council of EuropeApril 21, 2017 (source) \"The recent decision of the Supreme Court to declare the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Russian Federation an extremist organization, to close it and 395 local religious organizations of the Witnesses, raises serious concerns about religious freedom in Russia, and also serves as another example of how anti-extremist legislation is used to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.\"\nUnited States of America. Commission on Security and Cooperation in EuropeApril 21, 2017 (source) \"Russia's failure to respect religious freedom is yet another inexcusable violation of Moscow's OSCE commitments. People who practice their faith peacefully should never be harassed, fined, or imprisoned. The court order to confiscate the property of Jehovah's Witnesses adds humiliation to the persecution. It is hoped that this case will be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights.\"\nEuropean Union. European External Action ServiceApril 21, 2017 (source) \"Yesterday's decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to ban the activities of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia on grounds of \"extremism\" paves the way for criminal prosecution of members of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses for the mere practice of their religion. Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as by Russia's international commitments and international human rights standards.\"\nUnited Kingdom. Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeApril 21, 2017 (source) \"The decision of the Supreme Court of Russia to recognize the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses as extremist is alarming. This ruling effectively criminalizes the peaceful worship of 175,000 Russian citizens and contravenes the right to religious freedom enshrined in the Russian Constitution. The UK calls on the Russian government to uphold its commitment to this basic human right.\"\n","category":"rights","date":"2017-09-04T17:10:43+03:00","duration":null,"image":{"jpg":"/news/2017/09/212/k.jakubowska_shutterstock.com_1_0_hu_5b07e79946eef0fc.jpg","jpg2x":"/news/2017/09/212/k.jakubowska_shutterstock.com_1_0.jpg","webp":"/news/2017/09/212/k.jakubowska_shutterstock.com_1_0_hu_ba1022958e431c8c.webp","webp2x":"/news/2017/09/212/k.jakubowska_shutterstock.com_1_0_hu_4ba8c7a949044f56.webp"},"permalink":"/en/news/2017/09/212.html","regions":["eu"],"subtitle":null,"tags":["eu","international","osce","pace","state-department","fsem"],"title":"The UN called on Russia to abolish the List of Extremist Materials","type":"news"}]