RUSSIAS

SYSTEMATIC ATTACK
ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

c. 2007

2006 The Prosecutor Generals Office directs all

local prosecutors to investigate Jehovahs
Witnesses for signs of extremist activity.
Russia revises the Law on Starting in 2009
Relying on blatantly false expert studies,
Counteracting Extremist Activity, courts declare dozens of the Witnesses
which vaguely defines extremism. publications to be extremist.

Criminal & Administrative

Investigations
87 PUBLICATIONS CURRENTLY
DECLARED EXTREMIST

Police search Witnesses

homes and houses of
worship for extremist
literature.
2010
Permit to distribute the
Watchtower and Awake!
magazines revoked

Assets Liquidated March 2015

Importation of the
Witnesses local legal
Witnesses publications
entities declared
forbidden
extremist and liquidated

July 2015
3 COMPLETELY
LIQUIDATED
Official website
banned
Police Plant Evidence!
Police are caught planting
banned literature to fabricate
18 LIQUIDATIONS
BEING PURSUED
2016
evidence. Several instances Authorities seeking to
have been recorded on video. Houses have a Bible translation
of worship produced by the Witnesses
confiscated declared extremist

Witnesses are

2016
detained or charged
with possessing or
distributing banned
literature or for Jehovahs Witnesses
continuing the
activities of a banned National Administrative Center
organization.
The Prosecutor Generals office is
now threatening to liquidate the
16 100+ Witnesses national administrative
CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATIVE
CONVICTIONS CONVICTIONS
center for alleged extremist
activity. If the prosecution
succeeds, the Witnesses could
be deprived of their right
to practice their beliefs.