In Bashkiria, Security Forces Disrupted a Major Worship Service of Jehovah's Witnesses

On November 13, 2016 in the village. Priyutovo (Bashkortostan) Men with machine guns, masks and sportswear blocked the entrance to the city house of culture, where the service of Jehovah's Witnesses, coordinated with the authorities, began with the participation of 600 believers who came from different cities of the republic. The service was disrupted.

Several hundred believers, including children and the elderly, were blocked inside, the second group remained in complete bewilderment in the cold outside. There was no explanation from the officials, only by phone an employee of the police on duty said that "anti-terrorist exercises" organized by the FSB were taking place in the house of culture.

Believers consider the actions of law enforcement officers to be a deliberate disruption of their worship services. They intend to appeal these actions to various authorities.