Jehovah’s Witnesses

For Immediate Release
December 9, 2010
(Russian)

Families in Russia appeal to the ECHR for protection

STRASBOURG, France—Yelena Novakovskaya, Yelena Chavychalova, and Mikhail and Larisa Cheprunov, residents of the Ryazan and Tambov regions, have filed three separate applications connected with arbitrary and groundless intrusions into their homes and the seizure of their personal belongings. Their religious convictions were the sole grounds for the actions. The applicants maintain that state authorities acted contrary to the norms of domestic and international law.

In March 2010, Yelena Novakovskaya, a single mother of three who is one of the applicants, learned that she was the subject of a criminal investigation because her children, who are 3, 11, and 18, “preach” their religion at school. Because of excellent reports from neighbors and teachers concerning this family, initiation of a case against her was denied. Nevertheless, the Center for Counteracting Extremism of the Ryazan Region Police Department successfully obtained permission from the deputy chairman of the regional court to conduct an investigation of Novakovskaya’s apartment and had an extensive list of items to be seized. At the same time, she was not given an opportunity, as required by law, to read the search order completely. Russian courts subsequently refused to consider her appeal against the order. Having exhausted all means of legal protection within Russia, on December 7, Yelena Novakovskaya filed an application with the European Court of Human Rights.

During 2010, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in many areas of Russia have been “inspected” and searched, which has caused significant emotional distress and material damage. The courts authorized such searches, thereby giving them a cloak of legitimacy. In particular, these applications to the ECHR question the validity of such court authorizations.

A lawyer for the applicants states: “It is amazing that in such a progressive country as Russia, people who believe the Bible are denied the right to read and study it and share their faith with their neighbors. The law-enforcement authorities arrest law-abiding citizens, confiscate their books and magazines, and impose fines.” The three cases filed at the European Court on December 7 seek to demonstrate that owning and reading such literature is protected by the fundamental rights to which Russia is committed.

Contacts:
In Russia: Grigory Martynov, tel. +7 812 702 2691
In Belgium: The European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses, tel. +32 2 782 0015
In USA: J. R. Brown, tel. +1 718 560 5600