The appeal hearing in the case of a Jehovah's Witness from Denmark in Oryol will continue on September 28

On September 20, 2017, after a 4-hour hearing, the Oryol Regional Court postponed the appeal hearing in the case of Dane citizen Dennis Christensen, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, who is being held in a pre-trial detention center in the city of Oryol. The reason is that the court of first instance did not submit to the appeal part of the evidence of the defense, which was examined when considering the issue of extending the detention.

The court of first instance chose the most severe measure of restraint, baselessly assuming that Dennis Christensen could hide from the investigation and the court, leaving for the borders of Russia. Lawyers point to the redundancy of such a severe measure of restraint. Investigators seized the believer's passport, so he cannot physically leave Russia. Attached to the case is a letter from the Danish Embassy, which states: "For humanitarian reasons, the Royal Embassy of Denmark in Moscow in support of the petition ... on the replacement of a measure of restraint in the form of detention with another measure of restraint gives assurances at the place of demand that the Royal Embassy of Denmark in Moscow will not provide a new passport to D.O. Christensen and will not assist D.O. Christensen to leave the territory of the Russian Federation.

The believer is suspected of continuing the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization, which was liquidated by the court. Seeking his full acquittal, at this stage, the lawyers are asking the Court of Appeal to choose a measure of restraint against Dennis Christensen in the form of cash bail or house arrest. The appeal hearing will continue in the Oryol Regional Court on September 28, 2017 at 14:00.