Support The Moscow Times!

Jehovah’s Witnesses Appeal Russia's 'Extremist' Label

Mikey / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have lodged an appeal with Russia's Supreme Court after being added to an "extremist" registry alongside banned terrorist organizations, the court told the Interfax news agency on Tuesday.

Russia’s Justice Ministry added the religious group to a registry of banned organizations last month after the Supreme Court ruled in April to formally ban the group.

The judgement forced 396 registered Jehovah’s Witnesses branches across Russia to dissolve.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses said on their website on Monday that the Supreme Court has three months to consider the appeal.

An annual U.S. report on religious freedom cited Russia’s treatment of the Jehovah’s Witnesses among reasons for labeling it a “country of particular concern.”

The State Department’s report said the Jehovah’s Witnesses rights to religious freedom are “eliminated thoroughly, and yet ‘legally’ under Russian law.”

The UN’s anti-discrimination panel called Russia’s “extremist” label “vague and broad,” lacking clear and precise criteria for legal classification.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss 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