On Thursday, October 1, Russian security forces raided at least 9 dwellings of Crimeans in Sevastopol suspected of participating in the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organization banned in Russia. As a result, 5 people were detained, and a criminal case was opened against 4 people. This is reported by the Graty media agency.
It is noted that the security forces conducted searches at nine addresses, at least five people were detained for investigative measures.
“A criminal case has been initiated (Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) against four Jehovah's Witnesses, one of whom is the former chairman of the religious community in the city, Ievhen Zhukov”,- the message said.
As reported on the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia website, the detainees were spouses Nataliia and Volodymyr Maladyka, Ievhen Zhukov, Volodymyr Sakada and Ihor Shmiedt. A criminal case was initiated against them under an extremist article.