Jehovah’s Witnesses Appeal Confiscation of 123 Properties in Russia

Jehovah’s Witnesses have appealed the confiscation of 123 real estate and land properties in Russia, as reported by the RAPSI news service. The appeal was registered by the Kuzmin Court of Moscow, though no date has yet been set for the consideration of the case.

The court previously transferred the real property of a local organization known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses Togliatti,” which operates in a country where the group is recognized as extremist and prohibited. The property, which was donated to the “Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sweden,” also faces similar legal restrictions in Russia.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has filed an action to declare the transaction null and void, seeking the application of the consequences of its invalidity. This includes the payment of the property right record in the Single State Real Estate Register.

The properties in question span a wide geographic area, including Moscow, Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskovsk, Tulsk, Rostov, Voronezh, Irkutsk, Ivanovsk, Sverdlovsk, Kurgan, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Samara, Krasnodar, and Stavropol provinces, as well as the republics of Hakasia, North Ossetia-Alania, Saha (Yakutia), and HMAO-South. The total area of the properties includes more than 11,000 square metres of housing and commercial properties, along with 5.6 hectares of land.

The legal action highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, where their activities are officially banned. The appeal underscores the group’s efforts to challenge the confiscation of assets, a move that aligns with their broader mission to protect their rights and continue their religious activities despite legal obstacles.

The case reflects the complex legal landscape for religious organizations in Russia, where the government has taken steps to restrict the activities of groups deemed extremist. Jehovah’s Witnesses, like other religious groups, face significant challenges in maintaining their presence and operations within the country.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Russian)