*Four members of the religious organization “Jehovah’s Witnesses” have been detained in Tomsk by law enforcement officials.** The individuals, including two foreign nationals, are accused of extremist activities.

The detainees, men aged 24 to 65, allegedly recruited members by visiting homes in Tomsk and holding online meetings. Authorities report the suspects were persuading residents to join their community.

During the operation, police and investigators seized money, computer equipment, communications devices, extremist literature, and documentation.

Four criminal cases have been initiated under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This article pertains to participation in the activities of a religious organization that has been legally deemed extremist and prohibited. The court has ordered all four individuals to be held in pre-trial detention.

*On April 20, 2017, by a decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the activities of the religious organization “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia” and all its 395 regional branches were recognized as extremist and prohibited in Russia. Some members of the association are criminally prosecuted.