In Bashkiria, a new criminal case for faith and arrest

On October 18, 2018, in the city of Dyurtyuli (Bashkortostan), at least 11 searches were conducted in the homes of citizens who are suspected of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. 31-year-old Anton Lemeshev was arrested, he was sent to the pre-trial detention center until November 20, 2018.

The searches began early in the morning and lasted for 2-3 hours. All electronic devices, phones, computers, SIM cards, money, bank cards, passports, postcards, photographs, personal letters were seized. 15 people, including a minor girl, were taken to the investigative committee for questioning. After interrogation, most were released.

It is not yet known what exactly Anton Lemeshev and other citizens are suspected of.

Earlier, on April 10, 2018, after mass searches in the capital of Bashkortostan, 32-year-old Anatoly Vilitkevich was arrested. He is charged under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of an extremist organization) due to the fact that he allegedly professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. After 2 days, he was sent to Ufa pre-trial detention center No. 1, where he spent 71 days. He is currently under house arrest. His arrest was a direct consequence of the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of April 20, 2017, which imposed a ban on the activities of all registered legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses, including the association in Ufa. The decision of the Supreme Court is appealed to the ECHR as a matter of priority. Meanwhile, dozens of human rights defenders, as well as the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, express concern about the growing religious repression.