Jehovah's Witness* in Adygea sentenced to six years in colony

A court in Maykop has sentenced Inver Siyukhov, a Jehovah's Witness*, to six years in penal colony, although the prosecutor demanded nine years of freedom deprivation for him. Siyukhov is the third Jehovah's Witness* in Adygea who was sentenced to real term under the article on an extremist organization.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the prosecutor had demanded nine years of freedom deprivation for Siyukhov on charges of organizing the activities of an extremist organization.

The court in Maykop has found Inver Siyukhov guilty and sentenced him to freedom deprivation for six years, plus banning him to engage in any educational activities, as well as activities related to leadership and participation in religious public associations and organizations, for a period of four years, with freedom restriction for one year, the press service of the Maykop City Court has informed.

The court found proven the prosecution's version that Siyukhov, being an elder of one of the meetings of a local religious organization recognized as extremist, in violation of legal norms and being aware of the liquidation of the organization "Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia"*, had organized further activities of the religious association, the above court has added.

Inver Siyukhov's participation in the activities of the organization was expressed, among other things, in holding religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses* via videoconferencing; in the period from August 17, 2017, to April 16, 2021, at least 50 such meetings were organized and held.

Yaroslav Sivulsky, a representative of the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses, has noted the tightening of sentences for believers of this religion. "Severe sentences are being passed, and prison terms have become longer. For example, in Vladivostok, a believer received eight years of freedom deprivation, despite the fact that the first-instance court had acquitted him," Mr Sivulsky has concluded.

*396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses are recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia are banned by court's decision.