Russia
Now in Russia
- On September 6, 2010, police lieutenant Alexei Teleshev entered a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses located in Ulan-Ude, in southeastern Russia. Despite the protests of the three women inside, Teleshev demanded their passports and inspected the premises from inside and from on the roof. He asserted to the frightened believers that he did not need authorization for his search.
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
Expert Analysis
- PRESS CONFERENCE “Nationwide Action in Support of Freedom of Religion” (PDF format)
- Once exonerated, now objects of renewed persecution (PDF format)
Also in Russian
Court Cases
Jehovah’s Witnesses release first complete Bible in Ossetian
Press release: September 6, 2010
Also in Russian
Public access to religious Web site blocked in eastern Russia
Press release: September 3, 2010
Press release: September 2, 2010
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Police block entrance to religious convention site in Russia
Press release: August 23, 2010
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Heat wave and fires in Russia bring prompt response from Witnesses
Press release: August 23, 2010
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Criminal case against 73-year-old worshipper in Russia
Press release: August 23, 2010
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Russia prosecutes 85-year-old for his faith
Press release: August 6, 2010
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Appeal filed with ECHR regarding allegations of extremism
Press release: August 5, 2010
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Deaf in Russia to get their own Bible
Press release: August 2, 2010
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Appeal to be filed with Supreme Court in Russia
Press release: July 23, 2010
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Brazen predawn attack on house of worship in Kabardino-Balkaria
Press release: July 14, 2010
Women arrested while preaching near Moscow still in jail
Press release: June 25, 2010
Also in Russian
Some local courts in Russia seek to protect basic freedoms
Press release: June 25, 2010
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ECHR exonerates Moscow Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: June 10, 2010
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Christian faith seeks justice at European Court
Press release: June 1, 2010
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History repeats in Russia as authorities intensify searches
Press release: May 28, 2010
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Appeal made to Supreme Court in Russia
Press release: May 14, 2010
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Peak membership for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
Press release: May 6, 2010
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Internationally recognized educational journals restricted in Russia
Press release: May 6, 2010
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Arson attack on house of worship in Russia
Press release: April 8, 2010
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Press release: April 8, 2010
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Witnesses in Russia exhaust domestic options, file an appeal
Press release: April 8, 2010
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Police in Russia confiscate religious literature from homes of believers
Press release: March 24, 2010
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Confiscation of religious property in Russia begins
Press release: March 9, 2010
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Jehovah’s Witnesses address their fellow citizens
Press release: February 26, 2010
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Property ownership challenged in Moscow
Press release: February 23, 2010
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Another court ruling signals deteriorating freedoms in Russia
Press release: January 27, 2010
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Christian Literature on trial again in Russia
Press release: January 26, 2010
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Fair trial or judgment of faith?
Press release: January 21, 2010
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Will more religious literature be banned in Russia?
Press release: January 7, 2010
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2009
Who and what are affected by Russia’s Supreme Court ruling?
Press release: December 18, 2009
Also in Russian
Russian Supreme Court rules against Jehovah’s Witnesses and religious freedom
Press release: December 8, 2009
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Russian Supreme Court to hear controversial case examining internationally recognized publications
Press release: November 18, 2009
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Russian customs office finally releases bulk of literature shipment
Press release: November 18, 2009
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Literature shipments detained in Russia—random incidents or new trend?
Press release: October 21, 2009
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Meeting for Bible instruction raided in St. Petersburg
Press release: October 8, 2009
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Another regional court intent on banning educational publications in Russia
Press release: October 5, 2009
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Russian Supreme Court decides in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kaliningrad
Press release: September 30, 2009
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Regional “experts” seek censorship in Russia
Press release: September 28, 2009
Russian Supreme Court decision holds out hope
Press release: August 7, 2009
Also in Russian
Alarming consequences of raid on religious meeting in Russia
Press release: June 9, 2009
Also in Russian
Russia launches nationwide investigations aimed at banning the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: March 11, 2009
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2008
Arson destroys religious meeting hall in Russia
Press release: July 28, 2008
Also in Russian
FSB officers raid Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
Press release: July 16, 2008
Also in Russian
2007
Russian prosecutors attempt to use extremist law against Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: July 11, 2008
Deaf Russians win historic victory for religious freedom in European Court
Press release: January 11, 2007
Also in Russian
2006
Moscow Police Break Up Religious Service of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: April 17, 2006
2004
Deaf Russians’ case ruled admissible in European Court
Press release: October 20, 2004
Deaf Russian citizens given a “voice” in the European Court
Press release: September 23, 2004
Deaf Russian citizens take fight for religious freedom to the European Court
Press release: September 6, 2004
Over 300,000 Russians sign petition to President Putin protesting Moscow ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: August 23, 2004
Also in Russian
Attack on freedom of worship in Moscow gets reaction
Press release: June 17, 2004
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Russia Witnesses Respond to Moscow ban
Press release: June 16, 2004
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Moscow Appeal Court outlaws 11,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses who brace for return to Soviet era
Press release: June 16, 2004
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Europe watches for Appeal Court’s ruling on banning Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow
Press release: June 1, 2004
Press release: March 26, 2004
Decision expected in trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow
Press release: March 25, 2004
Banning Jehovah’s Witnesses will only help their activity, says expert
Press release: March 7, 2004
Ban on literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses disturbing to Russian expert
Press release: February 25, 2004
Trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow resumes Tuesday
Press release: February 16, 2004
2003
Annual conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses disrupted and canceled in Russia
Press release: September 8, 2003
Moscow Court orders fourth “expert study”
Press release: May 23, 2003
Moscow court refuses Council of Europe’s criticism of trial
Press release: May 14, 2003
Trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow resumes—no end in sight
Press release: May 12, 2003
Moscow freedom of conscience trial adjourned until March
Press release: February 13, 2003
Moscow Prosecutor’s Office continues fight against freedom of conscience
Press release: February 10, 2003
Also in Russian
2002
“Trial of faith” adjourned; no date set for resumption
Press release: April 5, 2002
Also in Russian
Russian court says Jehovah’s Witness student may refuse compulsory military training
Press release: March 11, 2002
Also in Russian
Christians in Moscow caught in Catch-22
Press release: February 22, 2002
Outrage over prosecutor’s conduct
Press release: February 19, 2002
Moscow trial turns into theological debate
Press release: February 14, 2002
Prosecution offers no new evidence in Russia’s human rights test case
Press release: February 13, 2002
Also in Russian
Trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow resumes again
Press release: February 12, 2002
Freedom of religion hinges on Moscow court case
Press release: February 11, 2002
Also in Russian
2001
9,386 Muscovites sign a petition rejecting prosecutor’s claims
Press release: November 26, 2001
Moscow court to examine religious literature
Press release: November 9, 2001
Also in Russian
Doctrinal dispute resurfaces in Moscow prosecution
Press release: November 6, 2001
Also in Russian
Representative of Orthodox Church to testify against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow trial
Press release: October 30, 2001
Also in Russian
Date set for Moscow retrial aimed at banning Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: September 29, 2001
Supreme Court reverses order to liquidate Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
Press release: June 27, 2001
Also in Russian
Press release: May 31, 2001
Also in Russian
Court Bans Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
Press release: May 17, 2001
Russian court orders registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kabardino-Balkaria
Press release: April 25, 2001
Siberian exile remembered this week
Press release: April 3, 2001
Also in Russian
Court acknowledges believers’ right to use their building
Press release: March 30, 2001
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Moscow court signals victory for religious freedom
Press release: February 23, 2001
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Moscow trial—decision expected Friday
Press release: February 22, 2001
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Moscow trial edging closer to a decision
Press release: February 15, 2001
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Bible attacked in Moscow trial
Press release: February 13, 2001
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Moscow court expert demands censorship
Press release: February 12, 2001
Also in Russian
Religious experts set to testify at Moscow trial
Press release: February 9, 2001
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‘Ban Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia’—Declares Prosecutor
Press release: February 7, 2001
Also in Russian
Key testimony rejected as Moscow banning trial resumes
Press release: February 7, 2001
Also in Russian
Moscow Prosecutor Seeks a Ban on Religious Freedom
Press release: February 6, 2001
Also in Russian
Press release: January 31, 2001
2000
Tatarstan Supreme Court orders local justice ministry to register Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: December 11, 2000
Also in Russian
Russian Supreme Court supports the civil right to hold religious services without obstruction
Press release: October 12, 2000
Also in Russian
Russian Cossacks Attack Religious Gatherings of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Press release: August 24, 2000
Local authorities in Northern Ossetia restrict freedom of worship
Press release: July 6, 2000
Also in Russian
Russian court overturns expulsion of Jehovah’s Witness from school for refusal of military training
Press release: July 5, 2000
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Press release: June 28, 2000
Jehovah’s Witness, kept against his will in a military unit, protects his rights in court
Press release: May 22, 2000
Also in Russian
Russian courts protect rights of conscientious objectors
Press release: May 5, 2000
Also in Russian
The decision of the Lipetsk Regional Court defends the right to freedom of worship
Press release: April 29, 2000
Also in Russian
Press release: March 10, 2000
1999
“People with convictions”: Exiles to Siberia remembered and honored
Press release: December 15, 1999
Also in Russian
Siberian residents and exiles to commemorate triumph over repression
Press release: December 14, 1999
Press release: November 23, 1999
Also in Russian
Decision on constitutional test of Russia's religion law due out Tuesday
Press release: November 22, 1999
Russian Supreme Court breaks new ground in religious freedom case involving child custody
Press release: August 16, 1999
Appeal dismissed in Moscow religious freedom case
Press release: June 28, 1999
Higher court to hear appeal in Moscow religious freedom case Monday
Press release: June 24, 1999
Also in Russian
Press release: May 6, 1999
Also in Russian
Moscow trial against Jehovah’s Witnesses suspended; delay of justice comes day after EP resolution
Press release: March 12, 1999
Hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses lose places of worship as Moscow trial continues
Press release: March 12, 1999
Key witnesses to testify Friday at Moscow human rights trial; press conference scheduled
Press release: March 4, 1999
Moscow Justice Department backs away from previous support of religious freedom
Press release: March 1, 1999
Press release: February 24, 1999
Prosecutor is a “no show” at Moscow human rights trial
Press release: February 18, 1999
Orthodox clergy show up in force at Moscow trial; Defense rebuts false charges
Press release: February 16, 1999
Prosecutor calls a ‘sick day’ in Moscow human rights trial
Press release: February 12, 1999
Jehovah’s Witnesses fight back at smear campaign during pivotal human rights case
Press release: February 12, 1999
Judge fires back at prosecution in Moscow human rights trial
Press release: February 11, 1999
Also in Russian
Prosecution in Russia court case insists on discussing religious doctrine
Press release: February 10, 1999
Press release: February 10, 1999
Also in Russian
International attention focused on human rights trial
Press release: February 9, 1999
Trial testing Russia’s religion law resumes Tuesday
Press release: February 5, 1999
1998
Trial to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses adjourned again; Prosecution not prepared with evidence
Press release: November 18, 1998
Trial testing Russia’s new religion law will start November 17
Press release: November 12, 1998
Also in Russian
Court case involving freedom of religion adjourned until November
Press release: September 30, 1998
International outcry grows against new religious persecution in Russia
Press release: September 25, 1998
News conference to highlight revival of religious persecution in Russia
Press release: September 21, 1998