For Immediate Release September 23, 2004

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Deaf Russian citizens given a "voice" in the European Court

STRASBOURG—"If a person is continually oppressed, he begins to feel unworthy. A victory in the European Court would help our deaf to feel that they are not less than others, that we have the same basic rights, to put it simply, that we are people too." With these words Mr. Konstanin Kuznetsov spoke for himself and the other four victims who attended an oral hearing of their case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

On September 9 the ECHR heard the case of Kuznetsov and Others v Russian Federation. The applicants are aggrieved that the Russian government supports the unjust actions of a Commissioner for Human Rights and the police who raided and shut down a lawful and peaceful Christian meeting of 150 deaf Jehovah's Witnesses in the town of Chelyabinsk, some 900 miles east of Moscow. 

Afterward, Kuznestov expressed gratitude that their application was treated with respect by the Court. "I could see that the Judges understood our situation and wanted to conduct the hearing in a fair and just manner. In Russia, it is almost never that a deaf person has his rights defended. So, it was amazing for our sign-language congregation to have their case heard at this high level. It had a powerful strengthening effect on us." 

Mr. Pavel Laptev, representing the Government of Russia, argued during the hearing that there was no interference with the deaf meeting and that the rental contract for the meeting hall, signed by the College Director, was illegal.

"It was very unpleasant for me to hear Mr. Laptev repeat false accusations. I didn't detect any compassion or concern for us as deaf people," declared Mindiyamal Khudaygulova, one of the deaf applicants. She added, "I was particularly upset when he accused the College Director of bribery. Everyone knows he is an honest person."

 Mr Richard Daniel, Counsel for the Applicants, expressed his "deep regret that the Russian Government should continue to show such insensitivity toward these deaf victims. They deny any interference despite a significant amount of witness testimony to the contrary. They totally reject the independent evidence of their own Federal Commissioner of Human Rights and make wholly unsubstantiated allegations against the College Director."

The Judges are expected to rule on admissibility in the next few months. The background to the case and a summary of the oral hearing may be found at www.jw-media.org.

English-speaking contact: Paul Gillies
Telephone: + 44 (0)7775 833880
French-speaking contact: Luca Toffoli
Telephone: +32 (0)475 58 10 36
Russian-speaking contact: Artur Leontyev
Telephone: +7 (911) 244 44 68