For Immediate Release
April 29, 2000
(Russian)

The decision of the Lipetsk Regional Court defends the right to freedom of worship

On April 24, 2000, the Board of Judges on civil cases of the Lipetsk Regional Court ordered the Justice Administration of Lipetsk Region to register the local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

For more than two years, the Justice Administration has refused to register the local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses on five occasions on various formal grounds. The last denial came after negative conclusions from the Regional Expert Council comprised mainly of members of Lipetsk's Regional Administration, together with a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is obvious that the purpose of the expert study was not to conduct an objective scientific examination but to find a pretext to deny registration. In the view of respected religious scholar Professor N. S. Gordienko, "the opinions about the religious teachings and practice of Jehovah's Witnesses in the 'Expert Conclusion' are not unbiased and contradict the scientific study of religion."

The District Court of Sovetsk, with support of the district prosecutor and representatives of the nationalist organisation "Pamyat" ["Memory"], refused to satisfy the complaint by the representative of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lipetsk, Viktor Bachurin. This also served as reason to appeal to the higher court, which made a decision ordering the Justice Administration of Lipetsk Region to register the local religious organisation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

"The decision of the Board of Judges of the Regional Court has great significance, not only for Jehovah's Witnesses but for all inhabitants of Lipetsk," says lawyer Artur Leontyev. "The essence of this legal dispute consisted of efforts by local authorities to control the private life of citizens, namely, the right to decide about what and with whom citizens may speak. The decision of the Regional Court defends the right of the individual to make independent choice in such matters. Hence, this legal decision is in agreement with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation regarding freedom of conscience, thought and religion, based on the fact that religious pluralism and diversity are the fundamental basis of any democratic society."

The Constitution of the Russian Federation guarantees to every citizen "freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, including right to confess individually or together with others any religion. to freely choose, possess and distribute religious. convictions and to act according to them." It was this right of all citizens of Lipetsk, including approximately five hundred Jehovah's Witnesses, that the Regional Court confirmed.

Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
197739 St. Petersburg, ul.Srednyaya 6
Telephone: (812)434-38-50, Fax: (812)437-09-70