Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
July 23, 2010
(Russian)

Appeal to be filed with Supreme Court in Russia

MOSCOW—The judgment of the Supreme Court of the Altay Republic that declared 18 Christian publications “extremist” was appealed to the Judicial Chamber for Civil Cases of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on July 13, 2010. The Local Religious Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gorno-Altaysk previously filed a supervisory appeal with the Supreme Court of the Republic of Altay, but the Court refused to consider it.

The religious texts of Jehovah’s Witnesses are based on and explain what is found in the Holy Bible—traditionally respected in Russia. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia are convinced that the judgment of the court is unjust, and they will therefore exhaust all domestic options for judicial protection. “If those fail, Jehovah’s Witnesses will have no other option than to submit the case to the European Court of Human Rights for consideration,” stated attorney Viktor Zhenkov. “I hope that judges of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation will not treat this appeal as a formality but will objectively consider the arguments set forth therein.”

Contact information:
In Russia: Viktor Zhenkov, tel. +7 812 702 2691

In USA: J. R. Brown, tel. +1 718 560 5000