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Jehovah’s Witnesses were designated an extremist organisation on 20 April 2017. At that time, the Supreme Court issued a ruling to liquidate the Administrative Centre and nearly 400 local communities across Russia. Previously, Jehovah’s Witnesses had only been banned in certain regions. In May 2017, reports emerged of a wave of pressure on Jehovah’s Witness children from teachers and police. Believers also reported multiple incidents of vandalism connected to locations associated with the organisation.
Cases against Jehovah’s Witnesses often rely on covert recordings made by undercover agents and testimony from “secret witnesses.”
The investigators regard any group prayers, singing of religious hymns, or reading the Bible via video link as “continuing the activities” of the banned organisation. Experts brought in by the investigation often interpret believers’ conviction in the truth of their path—something typical of any religion—as a sign of “religious superiority” and extremism.
We recommend viewing the interactive dashboard with analytics on the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.