Former prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp called on Putin to stop the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia

On May 16, 2021, the association of former prisoners of the Dachau concentration camp (Lagergemeinschaft Dachau) sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin condemning the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

“Not a day passes on which there is no report of state repression against Jehovah’s Witnesses,” the letter explains. “The homes of members of the religious denomination are searched and ravaged by the Russian secret service, FSB, and the police. Violent assaults and mistreatment occur. Women and men are condemned to long-term prison sentences. Requests to ease detention conditions or for parole are regularly refused.”

The letter concludes: “We urge you to grant every resident of the Russian Federation the constitutional right to free exercise of religion. Please end this injustice!”

Since the ban on Russian religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses and as of June 7, 2021, almost 1500 searches have been carried out in 65 regions of Russia, 492 people have become accused of extremism, the courts have already passed 100 sentences, 15 believers have been sent to a colony, 2 have served their sentences and been released, the rest are still serving their sentences. A total of 57 Jehovah's Witnesses are detained for their faith.