Series of Searches Took Place in the Altai Republic. A Criminal Case was Initiated Against a Believer Whom the Court Previously Acquitted on Two Occasions

On January 16, 2022, at least 4 homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in Gorno-Altaysk. Against the 45-year-old Aleksandr Kalistratov, a criminal case was reopened under an extremist article. The Altai Republic has become the 71st region of Russia where citizens are subjected to repression only because of their faith.

Kalistratov first encountered religious discrimination in 2000. The believer decided to exercise his right to alternative civilian service, but a criminal case was opened against him for refusing to take up arms. Aleksandr was arrested and placed in a pre-trial detention center for 21 days. However, in May 2000, the Gorno-Altai City Court acquitted Kalistratov, not seeing corpus delicti in his actions and recognized his right to rehabilitation.

In 2010, for his beliefs, Aleksandr again found himself in the dock: this time on charges of extremism. Within a year and a half, his case was considered twice. As a result, the first conviction in the history of modern Russia was passed against a Jehovah's Witness under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In the end, the believer managed to defend his honest name: the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic found Aleksandr innocent. As a result, Kalistratov was re-acquitted with the right to rehabilitation.

The high-profile case of Kalistratov was the reason for holding a press conference held on November 11, 2010 at the Independent Press Center in Moscow. Russian and foreign human rights activists condemned the criminal prosecution of Kalistratov

Commenting on his acquittal in 2011, the believer said: “I am pleased that in the end justice was served. I really hope that my life will return to normal and that I can safely practice my faith as a Jehovah's Witness.”

Despite the decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of October 28, 2021, the appeals of human rights activists and the world community, repressions of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia continue. Aleksandr Kalistratov, like hundreds of other believers, faces a long prison term just because he did not give up his peaceful beliefs and continued to believe in Jehovah God.