The Russian entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as all other religious groups, should have the opportunity to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly, a spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement on July 18.
The Russian Supreme Court ruled on July 17 to turn down a complaint by the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia against the organization’s ban and liquidation under a lawsuit by the Russian Justice Ministry.
“Jehovah’s Witnesses, like all other religious groups, must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as by Russia’s international commitments and international human rights standards,” the statement circulated by the European Commission Delegation to Russia said.
“The Russian Supreme Court on 17 July upheld its previous decision to liquidate all legal entities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, terminate their activity and confiscate their property, alleging ‘extremist activity’. The decision confirms the ban on the peaceful worship of Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the country,” it said.
“This ban has already resulted in cases of criminal prosecutions against Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as police raids on their prayer halls, arson attacks and other forms of harassment,” it said.
The Russian Supreme Court ruled on April 20 to uphold a motion by the Justice Ministry to designate Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia as an extremist organization and ban its activities in Russian territory.
The judgment orders the liquidation of the central Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses organization in Russia and the 395 regional sections. The court also ruled to nationalize the organization’s property.
