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Ukraine opened a case against FSB for searches of Jehovah’s Witnesses

02.06.2020, 09:08

Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Crimean police instituted criminal proceedings as on May 26, a series of illegal searches were conducted in the apartments of "Jehovah's Witnesses" members in Kerch by the so-called "law enforcement officers" of the occupier state.

This information is reported by Depo.ua citing the Main Directorate of the National police in the Crimea and Sevastopol.

The actions of Russian security forces are qualified under part 2 Article 162 Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal entry of a dwelling). The sanction of the article provides for a penalty of imprisonment for up to five years.

Law enforcement authorities of the Autonomous Republic are recording all facts of violation of the rights of believers on the Peninsula, including representatives of the organization "Jehovah's Witnesses".

Last year, the occupant's law enforcement officers similarly conducted mass searches on the Peninsula, following which believers were detained. Later, representatives of the religious organization were illegally convicted by the occupation courts. In particular, one of the members of this religious organization was illegally sentenced to six years in prison for "participating in an extremist organization". Another participant was sentenced to a fine of RUR 400,000.

On May 26, Russian security forces conducted four searches in the homes of "Jehovah's Witnesses" in Kerch, following which they detained at least one person.

In March, at least six residents of local followers of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" religion were attacked by FSB officers in the Crimean cities of Yalta and Alupka.

In November 2018, the FSB conducted a large-scale operation in Crimea - in Dzhankoy, they searched and detained dozens of suspected members of the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses".

As you know, in 2017, the organization "Jehovah's Witnesses" was recognized extremist in Russia, and the organization's headquarters in St. Petersburg was closed, after which they had to flee to Finland.

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