A Jehovah’s Witness has been convicted and fined 600,000 rubles (approximately $7,200 USD) in the Kalininsky District Court for preaching among residents of the Sakhalin Region. The court’s decision, announced on June 11th, follows an investigation into the man’s activities despite the ban on the religious organization “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia” in 2017.

The investigation revealed that the individual was aware of the ban but continued to practice and promote the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He allegedly sought to attract new followers, believing his religion to be superior to others.

According to the press service of the St. Petersburg courts, the man participated in meetings, engaged in online conversations with fellow believers, conducted missionary work, and spread religious beliefs among Sakhalin residents. His actions were aimed at recruiting and persuading individuals to join the banned religious organization.

Initially, the court imposed a fine of 1.1 million rubles. However, this amount was reduced to 600,000 rubles due to the man’s pre-trial detention of over a year. The “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia” has been officially recognized as an extremist organization and is prohibited from operating within the country.