Criminal Proceedings Under the Article "Extremism" Against a Jehovah's Witness Began in Kabardino-Balkaria

On May 16, 2017, the city court of Prokhladny (Kabardino-Balkaria) began consideration of the case on charges of Arkadi Hakobyan of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Preliminary hearings on the case were held in a closed session. The public prosecutor requested time to prepare his case. At his request, the hearing was postponed until May 31, 2017 at 10:00.

According to the prosecution, the believer made a speech in which the dignity of persons of other religions was allegedly humiliated. He is also charged with distributing religious literature among his fellow believers. Arkadya Hakobyan had previously appealed to the Investigative Committee of Russia with a request to bring to justice those who gave knowingly false testimony on which the charges were based. However, his criminal complaint has not yet been properly vetted.

Meanwhile, a similar case is being considered in the Sergiev Posad City Court against two Christian elders of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. The next hearing is scheduled for June 2, 2017.