The court in occupied Sevastopol starts a new trial on a Jehovah's Witness case – human rights activists

This is reported by Radio Svoboda (Radion Liberty) citing the Crimean Human Rights Group.

As noted, during the meeting, the new "judge" in this case, Palo Krillo, considered several petitions and questioned one of the prosecution witnesses. The next session is scheduled for October 26.

Earlier, the Russian-controlled Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol appointed a new judge in the "Viktor Stashevsky case".

In April 2017, the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses" was recognized as extremist by the Supreme Court of Russia and banned in this country. On the territory of the occupied Crimean Peninsula, representatives of the FSB regularly report on the liquidation of cells of this organization. Therefore, raids at possible cell members' have already taken place in Dzhankoy and Yalta. Besides, in June 2017, a member of the organization, Vitaliy Arsenyuk, was charged with illegal missionary activity. Arseniuk died a few hours after the court session. Another member of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Bakhchisarai district was denied the right to alternative service.