Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
January 26, 2010
(Russian)

Christian literature on trial again in Russia

GORNO-ALTAYSK, Russia—On January 27, 2010, the Supreme Court of the Altay Republic, located in south-central Russia, will consider the appeal of Jehovah’s Witnesses against the Gorno-Altaysk City Court’s decision to declare a number of religious publications “extremist.”

The Witnesses and their Bible literature are well-known throughout the republic. For example, two residents of the Altay Republic, Andrey and Aygul Lobanov, said the following regarding the benefit of these publications: “The Watchtower and Awake! magazines are a source of refreshment for us. They have helped us to build a strong and happy family. They encourage us to love all people regardless of their nationality, religion, skin color, income or social status.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Republic of Altay have heard sweeping accusations against them before. Early in 1994, many Witnesses in Gorno-Altaysk were summoned to appear in court. On the basis of the accusations against them, some of them were fired from their jobs and forced to leave Altay. However, it soon became clear that the accusations brought against them were false. Thus, in May of 1994, the Justice Department of the Altay Republic legally registered the Gorno-Altaysk community of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Leading human rights advocates describe a situation in Russia today that is steadily deteriorating from numerous violations of the Witnesses’ constitutional rights and freedoms to outright oppression. And this is despite the fact that not long ago thousands of Witnesses were fully recognized as victims of political repression and were exonerated of any charges that had been filed against them.

Contacts:
Russia: Grigory Martynov, Telephone: + 7 911 101 76 24
USA: J.R. Brown, telephone +1 718 560 5600
Belgium: European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses
Telephone: +32 2 782 0015
Germany: Wolfram Slupina, Telephone: + 49 6483 413 110