Russian “Jehovah’s Witnesses” has asked the armed forces to recognize them as victims of political repression
Moscow. 5 APR. INTERFAX.RU — Russian “Jehovah’s Witnesses” asking the Supreme court to consider claim on recognizing their organization is a victim of political repression.
“We ask you to consider our counterclaim on the recognition of Russian religious organization “Jehovah’s Witnesses” a victim of political repression and to recognize the illegal political persecution and actions of the Ministry of justice against us,” said the Supreme court, the representative of Jehovah’s witnesses.
He asked to consider the claim of the organization together with the claim of the Ministry of justice.
The Supreme court, after hearing the arguments of the parties, decided to reject the counterclaim of the Russian “Jehovah’s Witnesses” on the recognition of the organization as a victim of political repression.
“Refuse to accept the claim. The rules of jurisdiction do not provide for the acceptance of the counterclaim. However, will be judicial control over legality of activities of the Ministry of justice on the basis of the written objections of the defendant”, — announced the decision of the judge.
The Supreme court on Wednesday examines the question of Russian recognition of the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” extremist organization and banning its activities on the territory of Russia for the administrative claim of the Ministry of justice.
A lawsuit against the organization was filed on March 15, then by order of the Ministry of justice to the lawsuit in the armed forces was suspended “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in Russia in connection with their extremist activities.
The organization “Jehovah’s Witnesses” regularly becomes the object of attention of Supervisory authorities in all regions of Russia, moreover, in a number of regions banned.
Earlier, the Russian Supreme court recognized lawful the decision on liquidation of the territorial offices of “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in Orel, Stary Oskol and Belgorod, Abinsk of Krasnodar Krai, Samara, Birobidzhan and other cities.
The local branch of the organization was repeatedly brought to administrative responsibility for distribution of extremist materials: in Tyumen, Cherepovets, Samara, Saransk, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Gelendzhik, etc.