Russian Witness forced to quit job and unjustly indicted as a target of religious harassment
For Immediate Release
December 28, 2011
AKHTUBINSK, Russia— Yelena Grigorieva is one of many individuals targeted in an official campaign against Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout Russia. On December 20, 2011, local investigator A. Gluschenko served 43-year-old Mrs. Grigorieva with an unjust indictment for “Inciting to Hatred or Hostility and the Debasing of Human Dignity.”
Earlier this year, on February 8, 2011, Mrs. Grigorieva’s home was searched and officials seized a number of her personal religious publications. Mrs. Grigorieva became aware that officials were bringing a criminal case against her under Article 282(1) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Later, on February 11, officials visited her place of employment and she was forced to quit her job—supposedly of her own initiative. On February 17, 2011, Mrs. Grigorieva was served with an indictment stating that she distributed to residents of the Akhtubinsk District of the Astrakhan region “publications of an extremist nature from the Federal List of Extremist Materials.”
Mrs. Grigorieva says, “I completely disagree with the charges raised against me because I am convinced of the usefulness and value of Bible principles. Just recently my grandson was born and when he grows up, I hope that he will love God and his neighbors in the same way.”
Gulfira Zakaryayeva, an attorney who represents Grigorieva, commented: “Sad to say, the investigators were not interested in uncovering the truth. They merely tried to charge my client because she is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Grigory Martynov, a spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, adds: “We desire to assist people with practical, Bible-based information and our right to do so should be respected. I hope that the authorities will stop this campaign of harassing Christians like this woman in Akhtubinsk and that all criminal charges against her will be dropped.”
Media Contacts:
J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5600
Russia: Grigory Martynov, tel. +7 812 702 2691
Belgium: European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses, tel. +32 2 782 0015
Source: JW Media
