For the first time, South Ossetia reported on the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses*
A criminal case regarding the organization of extremist activities is being investigated against five residents of South Ossetia. They are under a travel ban. This is the first report from the authorities about the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses* since the organization was banned in South Ossetia.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on October 11, 2017, the head of the Ministry of Justice of South Ossetia stated that the Supreme Court recognized the republican organization of Jehovah's Witnesses* as extremist and banned its activities.
The State Security Committee of South Ossetia has initiated a criminal case against five members of the extremist community "Jehovah's Witnesses" on the grounds of a crime under part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Organization of extremist activities").
All suspects have been placed under a travel ban, the IA "Res" reported today, citing the agency.
Since the ban on the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses*, the authorities in South Ossetia have not reported on the investigation of extremist cases against believers, according to data collected by the "Caucasian Knot" based on open sources.
It should also be noted that on April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia, at the request of the Ministry of Justice, recognized the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia"* and its 395 branches as extremist organizations, banning their activities. The consequences of this ban are covered by the "Caucasian Knot" on the thematic page "Ministry of Justice against Jehovah's Witnesses*".
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in March 2022, the homes of five Jehovah's Witnesses* in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia, were searched, and they were interrogated by the authorities. Their mobile phones, information carriers, and personal notes were seized. A criminal case was not initiated at that time .
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* 396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses have been recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia are banned by court decision.
** The activities of the Meta company (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.