Religious freedom
In Russia, a 69-year-old Jehovah’s Witness was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday. The religious community spoke of a “punishment of unimaginable cruelty”. It is the first time a woman has been sentenced to prison since Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned in Russia in 2017.
25.02.2021 09.11
Online since today, 9.11 a.m.
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The court in the Republic of Khakassia also imposed a six-year prison sentence on the defendant’s son. The Abakan court found the defendant Valentina Baranovkaya guilty of “involvement in a prohibited organization”. The son, Roman Baranowski, was charged with organizing “activities” by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In terms of religious persecution, Russia is approaching the conditions in Soviet times, said Jehovah’s Witnesses spokesman Yaroslav Siwulski. According to surveys by the religious community, 71 judgments have been pronounced against Jehovah’s Witnesses, and seven members of the community are currently in custody.
Jehovah’s Witnesses “extremist” for authorities
The Ministry of Justice in Moscow describes Jehovah’s Witnesses as “extremist”. This term is used indiscriminately for “terrorist” organizations, opposition groups or sects.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are also attacked by the Orthodox Church in Russia, which is close to the Kremlin. The denomination was founded in the United States in the 1870s. Their followers consider themselves to be the only faithful guardians of the faith of Christianity.
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