Sadlier Oxford Level E Unit 2

Jehovah's Witness found not guilty in one of the historic criminal cases in Russia

press release
14 April 2011

During process

Gorno-Altaysk. in Gorno-Altai court of the city just completed a trial which is of great importance to freedom of expression and religion in Russia. Judge Marina Sokołowskaja announced sentence in a criminal case against Jehovah's Witnesses, Alexander Kalistratowowi.


This is the first case of its kind in Russia. Kalistratowa accused of incitement to religious hatred and hostility. The witnesses were interviewed 71 people, but none of them could not confirm the guilt of Alexander. Moreover, for a period of six months of the trial, no evidence to substantiate allegations. Lawyer Victor Żenkow, which represents the interests of the defendant, said: "It is clear that Alexander Kalistratow committed no crime. announced today acquittal shows that the allegations against Kalistratowa and other Jehovah's Witnesses in the Gorno-Ałtajsku are absolutely baseless and constitute a glaring example of misuse of federal law "On countering extremist activity."


"I am grateful to Judge, that won the courage to take such a decision - says Alexander Kalistratow, when asked about the assessment of what happened. - I hope that the verdict would be beneficial also for my fellow believers who are still persecuted in Russia. It would be sad if other innocent citizens of Russia also illegally monitored solely because of religious intolerance ".


More than seven and a half million Jehovah's Witnesses in over 230 countries and territories watched with great interest the process. "Our co-religionists throughout the world and other observers are happy with the fact that the court confirmed the innocence of Kalistratowa - said Vasily Kalin, chairman of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. - This victory is an important step in ensuring the protection of religious freedom."


Today's verdict completely coincide with the unanimous decision Court European 10 June 2010, which ruled that Russian courts had violated the right of the Moscow population are dependen Jehovah's Witnesses, refusing to re-register. ruling says that Russia "must meet the legal requirements ... put an end to violations found by the Court and eliminate their effects, in order to restore, as far as possible the situation that existed before the violation,"

Source: http://www.jw-russia.org/news/gorno-altaysk/release20110414_u.htm
translation: Rikardo