Support The Moscow Times!

Jehovah's Witnesses Launch Appeal Against Russia Ban

Russia's Supreme Court judge Yuri Ivanenko reads the decision in a courtroom in Moscow on April 20, 2017 Ivan Sekretarev / AP

The Jehovah's Witnesses have launched an appeal against a court ruling banning the organization from Russia.

Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky Court will hear the appeal on Monday, a court spokesperson said.

Russia's Supreme Court ruled to ban the Jehovah's Witnesses from Russia last week after branding them an “extremist organization.”

The church's property is currently being seized by the government, and believers will face criminal charges if they continue to meet or distribute literature. 

The Justice Ministry has defended its decision as being "in the interest of public safety," claiming that the organization "threatens human rights."

It particularly condemned believers' refusal to accept blood transfusions and publications which it claimed presented the Jehovah's Witnesses as a "superior" religion.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more