For Immediate Release
February 15, 2001
(Russian)

Moscow trial edging closer to a decision

MOSCOW, RUSSIA—A decision in the trial aimed at banning Jehovah's Witnesses in Moscow could be made next week, since the five religious and linguistic experts completed their testimony in the Golovinsky Intermunicipal District Court yesterday.

Mr. S. A. Nebolsin, self-confessed ultranationalist and staunch member of the Orthodox Church, openly supported a ban on Jehovah's Witnesses because they publish comments that "criticize Christendom for betraying God and the Bible and for holding Christendom liable for wars."

Earlier in the day, Sergei I. Ivanenko, Ph.D., an expert in religious studies, insisted that Jehovah's Witnesses are "more tolerant than other religions that use stronger condemnatory language." Ivanenko, who does not support the joint conclusion of the other four experts, testified: "There is nothing in the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses that sows discord." He added: "Their literature stresses love, democratic values in terms of conscience, and the freedom to join or leave the religion. They respect the rights of others in a democratic system."

Dr. Ivanenko questioned the ability of his fellow experts to judge such complex religious issues and criticized them for using unscientific expressions such as "zombie." He said he had more confidence in the 12 experts assigned by Russia's Ministry of Justice to review the same accusations. That Expert Council's investigation established that the activities of the Witnesses are benign, lawful, peaceable and respectful. Consequently, Russia's Ministry of Justice reregistered Jehovah's Witnesses in April 1999, and by extension, its decision exposes the present accusations of the prosecutor as baseless.

The case resumes tomorrow when witnesses from both sides will be heard.

Contacts: Russian-speaking Jaroslav Sivulskii, Mobile Telephone: + (7) 8 902 682 8197
English-speaking, Paul Gillies, Mobile Telephone: + 44 7775 833880