New Searches in Tambov Region. Prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in This Region Has Been Ongoing for 15 Years Already

At least seven searches took place on March 27, 2025, in Tambov at the homes of those whom the investigation considers to be Jehovah's Witnesses. A criminal case has been initiated against one believer. He is suspected of "organizing the activity of a religious association... by organizing religious presentations and meetings for worship."

The search warrants were issued by the Leninskiy District Court of Tambov at the request of the local Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Cell phones, laptops, tablets, external storage devices, notebooks, and personal notes were confiscated from the believers. In one case, law enforcement officers took away a book by religious scholar Sergey Ivanenko, and in another, according to the owners, law enforcement officers said that "you can't have a Bible at home, but you need to buy it in church, if needed."

Jehovah's Witnesses in the Tambov Region faced prosecution because of their faith back in 2010, when the first searches were carried out and an investigation under an extremist article began. Later, the ECHR declared the incident a violation of religious freedom and awarded compensation to the believers. Despite condemnation from the international community, the prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia continues.