In two cities of Karelia, a violent action against peaceful Christians took place simultaneously

On the evening of July 28, 2016, law enforcement officers armed with machine guns, including the FSB and riot police, came to the worship buildings of Jehovah's Witnesses in Petrozavodsk and Kostomuksha.

In Petrozavodsk at that time, a service was held with the participation of dozens of local believers. Phones and other electronic devices were seized from those present. Some of the believers were roughly knocked to the floor by law enforcement officers, pressed with their knees, and kicked. Believers were asked questions, documents were checked. The last detainee was released well after midnight. Several printed publications included in the Federal List of Extremist Materials (FSEM) were planted.

At the worship building in Kostomuksha, the visitors planted two copies of printed materials included in the FSEM, as well as, unusually, the original passport of a man who had not attended Jehovah's Witnesses services, but it is known that his relatives had previously opposed the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. The purpose of planting this document is unknown.

As for the planting of printed materials, this has become a widespread practice of unscrupulous law enforcement officers. The "discovered" materials serve as the basis for initiating administrative cases with a view to the subsequent liquidation of the registered community and recognizing it as "extremist".