The Leningrad Regional Court Refused to Recognize Jehovah's Witnesses' Brochures as "Extremist"

On October 13, 2016, a panel of the Leningrad Regional Court overturned the decision of a lower court, which, according to the prosecutor's office, had erroneously recognized Jehovah's Witnesses' brochures as "extremist materials." The millionth party was under arrest for more than a year and a half.

The court examined a lot of evidence refuting the prosecutor's arguments, including the opinion of a leading expert institution in Russia, as well as the conclusions of a number of specialists in the field of philosophy and philology, including doctors of science from St. Petersburg State University and other scientists.

It is noteworthy that one of the brochures, which the prosecutor's office tried to recognize as "extremist", draws the attention of believers to the need to avoid violence, develop patience and love for others.

The erroneous inclusion of Jehovah's Witnesses publications in the FSEM is at the root of widespread harassment of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the country, including the liquidation and banning of several registered communities. Jehovah's Witnesses strongly object to labelling them "extremists," emphasizing that extremism is deeply alien to their biblically based views and morals.