Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
September 28, 2009

Regional “experts” seek censorship in Russia

GORNO-ALTAYSK, Russia—Another local city prosecutor in Russia is actively pursuing having the religious literature that is distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide classified as extremist. The hearing of the case is due to resume in the Gorno-Altaysk City Court on Monday, September 28, 2009. If the prosecutor’s claim were granted, a number of publications distributed by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia would be classified as “extremist” and be placed on a national list and thus be banned countrywide.
These developments in Gorno-Altaysk, Republic of Altay, in the heart of Eurasia, mirror similar claims filed in courts throughout Russia in recent months. There are reliable indications that local prosecutors receive information and directives from their superiors in what some see as a coordinated attack against Jehovah’s Witnesses by state agencies and anti-cult groups.
These pending regional court rulings, including the one in Gorno-Altaysk, are in direct contrast with decisions by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. This year that court has upheld two lower-court rulings that were favorable to Jehovah’s Witnesses involving liquidation claims and that supported freedom of worship.

Contacts:
Russia: Yaroslav Sivulskiy, Telephone: +7 911 087 80 09

USA: J.R. Brown, telephone +1 718 560 5600

Europe: European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses, telephone: +32 2 782 0015