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FOR TODAYS UPDATES AND TRANSCRIPT APRIL 7 SEE www.theworldnewsmedia.org/topic/34034-day-3-russia-vs-jehovahs-witnesses-supreme-court-transcript-live-updates/

9:00 In Moscow, a soft drizzle of rain. Along the facade of the Supreme Court was stretched a long line of those who came to the process as listeners. At the courthouse at Cook Street parked a large bus full of obviously bored police officers. So loud process seems unordinary event for court employees. However, a surprising calm that, despite the obvious excitement retain hundreds of believers, better than any words convinced that extremism - it is not about them. 9:40 Great Hall of the Supreme Court gradually filled with students and journalists. 10:00 The process began with the questions of the court to a representative of the Ministry of Justice. Court seeks to deal with the fact that the plaintiff imputes Administrative Center blamed the episode from 2014, when, according to the Ministry, the Administrative Center has imported in the Russian publication, which will subsequently be recognized as extremist materials. Court interested in the question, how could a religious organization to know that the book will be recognized as extremist, if not FSEM. 10:10 Court seeks to understand at what rate law based Ministry of Justice, claiming that the local religious organization (MPO) are "structural units" of the Administrative Center. The Ministry of Justice considers that it is logical, because the organization read the same books, and linked. Court asks how it is in this case meets the requirements of legal certainty. Does this not violate the European Convention enshrined the right to freedom of religion? After all, it was denied in bringing 395 companies to participate in the case as a respondent. Questions remain without clear answers. 10:20 The judge asked the representative of the Ministry of Justice, on the basis of which they claim that the funding MPO Administrative Center is precisely the financing of "extremist activity"? What it is objectively proved? If anything, then what's the Ministry of Justice claims are based? 10:28 objections to the presentation of all proceeds to the defendants. But above all, the lawyer Omelchenko seeks to adduce statements from the Russian newspaper dates entry in FSEM of certain publications. Court attaches. 10:35 The first acts Vasily Kalin, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the "Jehovah's Witnesses Administrative Center in Russia." Legitimate whether today's efforts to ban the Witnesses? For 26 years, the center has not been brought to justice for extremism. "If we are all these years have been good, at which point we have extremists?" If the ban happens to be inflicted substantial harm, and persecution has already begun. People will be prosecuted only for a joint reading of the Bible, and we've been through. We already put on a par with organizations such as the Taliban, and other Aum Senriko. The position of Jehovah's Witnesses is unchanged: to obey the authorities, to pray for them. Always adhere to the principles of peace. 10:45 Kalin said the circumstances of the repression of religion in the Soviet Union, which he remembers himself. It shows the court a certificate rehabilitated victims of political repression. He asks what is now witness wants him and his co-religionists to give the Ministry of Justice? Actions of Justice reject the country in the past. 10:50 By the Deputy Kalina, Sergei Cherepanov. He explains what measures have been taken the center of Jehovah's Witnesses for the prevention of extremism. 10:57 Cherepanov mentions that the center of Jehovah's Witnesses in the list of the most dangerous organizations. He is not a lawyer, but he thinks that the actions of the Ministry of the fight against extremism gone down the wrong path.In recent years, 20 criminal cases under article Extremism were initiated against Jehovah's Witnesses. Although most of the cases ended in acquittals, the faithful rights were significantly violated and their lives are blighted. 11:05 Cherepanov mentions cases of fraud had been planted and which have been declared to law enforcement agencies, however, completely ignored by the police and other authorities. There is no doubt that Jehovah's Witnesses center has taken all possible measures to counter extremism. Deputy Attorney General, who a year ago signed a warning of Jehovah's Witnesses, refused to meet, which could clarify what further action the supervisor might expect from the Jehovah's Witnesses. 11:13 Fight against extremism in the civilized world. However, only in Russia is persecuted Jehovah's Witnesses, who worship in the world visited by about 20 million people. Pursue them in Russia means to challenge all those countries where Jehovah's Witnesses are free to profess their faith. At this Cherepanov finishes his speech and asked to adduce points of his speech. Full text explanations Cherepanov SB (PDF, 226 KB) 11:15 Speech Zhenkova lawyer. He convincingly argues that, contrary to the Ministry of Justice, among the goals and objectives of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses is not extremism. If 100 years and unofficially officially 26 years of existence of Jehovah's Witnesses were not proven harm from their activities, then what harm refers to the Ministry of Justice? 11:20 Little wife points out that the vast majority of publications Witnesses were included in FSEM 8 years ago. Over the years there have been no terrorist act or an act of vandalism by Jehovah's Witnesses. Nothing of the sort was before. 11:24 Little wife draws attention to the fact that these publications were included in FSEM before the famous Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court, who explained that extremism can not be regarded as criticism of other religions. 11:25 Little wife emphasizes that only a few experts found signs of extremism in the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses. unqualified experts often work. Courts hear cases in the absence of the faithful. For example, one of the brochures, which contains almost no text has been recognized as an extremist for the phrase "avoid bad deeds." In response to laughter little wife said that the people who conduct searches because of this brochure, not a laughing matter. 11:30 Two other publications included in FSEM, but Jehovah's Witnesses still do not know why, in spite of the numerous appeals and requests. "If so consider printed texts, the Russian can generally be left without books soon!" 11:35 Little wife: It seems that the prosecution is trying by all means to recognize the extremist largest possible number of Jehovah's Witnesses materials. For example, the prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit on the recognition of extremist Bible itself, in spite of an express stipulation in the law of the Bible and quotes from it can not be recognized as extremist. Of arguments the prosecutor's office: "Taken as a book, the Bible ceases to be the Bible, which it is only in the Church." (Laughter.) 11:39 Little wife points out that the cases involving the recognition of the Jehovah's Witnesses extremist literature appealed to the ECHR. 22 complaints and merged into one. In response to the request of the Strasbourg Court of the Russian Federation has officially recognized that Jehovah's Witnesses literature contains no open calls for violence. 11:45 The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the case of the recognition of the Jehovah's Witnesses as extremist materials shall not affect the rights of the "Jehovah's Witnesses Administrative Center in Russia", and these solutions are not canceled. A Justice Department now believes that on the contrary, affects ¬eto Law Center. But this is a mistake. 11:55 Lawyer little wife document proves that the printed materials have never been imported to the country after having been recognized as extremist. This also applies to all of the episodes, which imputes to believers the Ministry of Justice in its lawsuit. 12:05 At importation into the country almost every publication from the center of Jehovah's Witnesses were the results of examinations, is not found in them signs of extremism. Thus, the center could not have foreseen that certain materials can be considered extremist. The legislation is based on the principles of legal certainty and predictability of the consequences of certain actions. However, in the actions of state authorities against Jehovah's Witnesses, this principle is clearly not respected. 12:10 Statement by the representative of the defendant Toporova. "Extremism is extremism of Jehovah's Witnesses on the paper." No casualties, the victims or victims of the alleged "extremist" activities nor the prosecutor's office nor the Ministry of Justice failed to provide. 12:12 Axes refutes the Ministry of Justice on the "financing of extremism." Financial aid directed MPO, was directed at the liturgical service of buildings, utilities, sometimes to help the believers who have suffered from natural disasters. 12:17 The representative of Ax: The Ministry of Justice is encouraging countries to highest judicial body to resort to double standards. Earlier, the court, with the support of the Ministry of Justice, took the consistent position that the judgment against the local organizations do not affect the rights of the Administrative Center. Now the position of the Ministry has changed the other way around. It is trying to extend the sanctions imposed on several local organizations in the center and on all other 395 local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. 12:22 Axes analyzes the legal meaning of the term "within the structure of a centralized organization." Referring to the legislation, regulations and legal opinions, Ax shows that we are talking exclusively about the canonical and spiritual connection. Local religious organizations are not branches and representative offices of a centralized organization. 12:37 Axes explains that central and local organization of Jehovah's Witnesses are not liable for the obligations of each other. Center is the founder of any of the MPO. Each of them has its own composition of the founders of the 10 or more people. Each MPO its unique name, its own constitution, separate property, the right to enter into civil contracts. Addressing the judge, ax the analogy: the entire Russian judicial system is a single structure, but regional courts are not the structural units of the Supreme Court, but are separate entities. 12:43 Axes wondered why the vast majority, more than 380 MRO Russia, who have never received any complaints from the state, should be eliminated, even without warning and the opportunity to change something? In fact, there are hundreds and hundreds of the results of audits of various departments, found no violations in the activities of all these MPO. 22 Crimea MPO, registered under the Russian legislation and have not committed any violation, wondering what they should be recognized as extremist, and their property confiscated? Why Moscow MPO registered under the instruction of the ECHR and has not committed any offense should be subject to less severe penalties? 12:52 Presentation by representative of Maxim Novakova. His speech is devoted to the analysis of so-called "new evidence of extremist activity" referred to by the Ministry of Justice in its lawsuit. We are talking about fines imposed on the number of MPO due to the detection in the liturgical buildings of extremist materials. 13:06 Administrative Center is not invited to participate in the affairs, so did not have an effective opportunity to raise the issue of the presence of provocations. Meanwhile, no evidence for a court may not have established force. Judicial decisions imposing fines could not have a prejudicial effect. Otherwise it would be a violation of the right to a fair trial. The decisions referred to by the Court - it is a beautiful enclosed "boxes", but the content of these "boxes" are not as priglyadno. To have a complete picture and to make an objective assessment, the court must assess the circumstances of the incident. At the service breaks riot police, throwing all the men on the floor, they were not allowed even to raise his head, while the unidentified man move uncontrollably in the building. On camera recorded as riot police stormed the building and takes liturgical police tossed in the closet prohibited materials, and then they "discover". 13:12 Novakov tells an interesting detail, recently discovered in the materials of the case. It turned out that one of the lobed publications is the inscription indicating that this publication belongs to one of the centers of Orthodox anti-sectarian!

HERE IS MY TAKE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING: SCENARIO #1 iF THE COURT DECIDES IN FAVOR OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IT WILL TURN OUT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST VICTORIES OF ALL TIME AS WORLD ATTENTION HAS BROUGHT THIS TO THE FORE BY SHOWING THAT THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND OTHER APOSTATE LIES HAVE NO MERIT AND ARE RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY. THIS WILL RESULT IN MASSIVE AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, NOT JUST IN RUSSIA BUT EVERYWHERE. SCENARIO #2 IF THE COURT DECIDES AGAINST JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES THAT WILL ALSO TURN OUT TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST WITNESSING ACTS SINCE RIGHT-HEARTED PEOPLE WILL SEE THE BASELESS CLAIMS AND HYPOCRISY OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND OTHER APOSTATES. RESULT WILL BE ALSO MASSIVE INTEREST IN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WORLDWIDE. RESULTS: SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS - JEHOVAH AND HIS PEOPLE WILL WIN. AND THE REPERCUSSIONS WILL CASCADE DOWN TO NOT ONLY ALL THE FORMER NATIONS OF THE SOVIET UNION BUT THE ENTIRE WORLD WILL SEE THAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WERE SINGULARLY TARGETED FOR ELIMINATION OUT OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER RELIGIONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT? PRAISE JAH

Why is a mistake to think of Jehovah's Witnesses extremist? January 4, 2017 Incitement to hatred of people foreign to the Jehovah's Witnesses as they follow humane precepts of Jesus Christ. Attribute to them extremism mistake for several reasons. 1. More than 100-year history of the religion proves the non-extremist nature of their views. Jehovah's Witnesses have never taken up arms. In Germany they are even at the cost of freedom and life refusing to serve in the Wehrmacht. In the Soviet Union, subjected to cruel oppression, the Witnesses do not hate their persecutors. Now Jehovah's Witnesses - a multinational brotherhood, proven ability to overcome the prejudices separating people. 2. Nowhere in the world except Russia, Jehovah's Witnesses have not been accused of extremism. The communities of this religion freely operate in more than 200 countries around the world. They are all united by one based on the Bible doctrine. Millions of Jehovah's Witnesses are concerned about unfounded accusations against their Russian co-religionists. 3. The Russian experts in the field of human rights condemned the application of the law on extremism to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation in its report for 2013 , said: "Ostroaktualnoy remains the problem of imperfection so-called" anti-extremist "legislation. Fuzzy wording itself of the basic concept of "extremism" is becoming even more blurred when adding a definition of "religious". What is considered a "religious extremism", can not yet solve even the scholars in religious studies. But this "rubber" concept can easily operate with other law enforcement and judicial authorities in the field, investing in it's own subjective attitude to a particular denomination. " 4. The international community has condemned the application of the law on extremism to the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. "The Assembly urges the Russian authorities ... to refrain from applying the law on extremist activities against all religious communities, especially Jehovah's Witnesses" ( Resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe number 1896 [2012], p. 25.31 ). The UN Human Rights Committee has repeatedly expressed concern that the Russian extremism law "is directed, in particular, against the Jehovah's Witnesses» ( CCPR / the C / SR.3157. Concluding observations of the seventh periodic report of the Russian Federation ). Jehovah's Witnesses do see an explanation of what is happening in the prophetic words of Jesus Christ, who was executed on false charges of sedition. He warned his disciples: "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" (John 15:20).

www.theworldnewsmedia.org/topic/33915-day-2-russian-supreme-court-transcript-live-updates-jw-vs-russia/ BROTHER SANDERSON FROM THE GOVERNING BODY AT SUPREME COURT IN RUSSIA ON DAY 2 APRIL, 6 2017.

Russian Baptists support Jehovah's Witnesses DOCUMENT: OPEN LETTER TO RUSSIAN PRESIDENT V.V. PUTIN OPEN LETTER 5 April 2017 Profoundly esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich, peace to you! On 15 March 2017 the Russian Ministry of Justice filed in the Supreme Court of the RF a lawsuit for the liquidation of the "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and for the banning of the activity of the religious organization for extremism. Consideration of the lawsuit is scheduled for 5 April. Simultaneously, by an order of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian federation of 15 March 2017 "Concerning the suspension of activity of a religious organization" in connection with the appeal to the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice suspended the activity of the religious organization Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia and local religious organizations that are members of its structure. Inasmuch as the right to freedom of conscience is exercised by individuals through joint participation in one or another form of activity of religious associations and is expressed in the possibility to conduct joint activities for exercising and disseminating their convictions, the closing of religious organizations of the Jehovah's Witnesses will lead to the restriction of freedom of conscience of tens of thousands of citizens of the Russian federation who confess the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. Despite our disagreement in the strictly religious sphere, to wit, theological dispute with the teachings and certain practices of Jehovah's Witnesses, we express our profound concern with the situation of the religious organization Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia in the sphere of the exercise of their constitutional rights to freedom of conscience and religious confession. Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich! We ask you, as the guarantor of the constitution of the Russian federation, to protect the right of freedom of conscience of citizens of the Russian federation and do not permit the closing of religious organizations of the Jehovah's Witnesses. With respect and prayer for you, A.V. Smirnov, President of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (tr. by PDS, posted 6 April 2017) Russian original posted on Portal-Credo.ru, 6 April 2017

1 17:13 The court announces a break in the hearing until April 7, 2017 10:00. Entrance to the building will be open from 9:00 am.

16:53 Questions Ministry of Justice sets lawyer Omelchenko. He asked whether the Ministry of Justice unit able to answer exactly when a certain book appeared in the Federal List of Extremist Materials. The Ministry of Justice believes that the answer to this question can be obtained by judicial request. 16:56 Omelchenko asks about federal Forensic Center at the Ministry of Justice of Russia. He notes that these centers come to diametrically opposite conclusions about the presence or absence of signs of extremism. Omelchenko question: how could this be possible. A ministry spokesman did not know. The next question is why the Ministry of Justice supported only negative conclusions of experts and does not maintain a positive? Unknown. Does the Ministry of Justice initiated a review of decisions in cases where there was such a contradiction? Representative of the facts are not known. 16:58 Omelchenko reminded that earlier today the Court asked the Ministry of Justice the question of whether the Ministry has initiated a revision of the list of extremist materials, after amendments were made to the law, for example, that the Bible and quotes from it can not be priznavaemy extremist materials. No such initiatives by the Ministry of Justice was not. 17:07 Questions to the representative of the Justice Ministry asks the respondent's representative Maksim Novakov. He's trying to figure out whether the known circumstances of the Ministry of Justice of the events that are imputed to the Jehovah's Witnesses as "extremist activities." For example, if they know what to search at the Jehovah's Witnesses security services are de-energized entire neighborhoods, where there are liturgical building. Ministry of Justice of the factual circumstances does not know. Other questions from the defendant to the Ministry of Justice no. 17:13 The court announces a break in the hearing until April 7, 2017 10:00. Entrance to the building will be open from 9:00 am. BROTHER SANDERSON FROM THE GOVERNING BODY AT SUPREME COURT IN RUSSIA

15:57 Lawyer little wife clarifies representative for the Ministry of Justice, whether the respondent correctly understands that the Ministry of Justice claims boil down to three points: 1) the import of extremist literature, 2) financing MPO 3) failure to take effective measures to prevent extremist activity. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that this is a correct understanding of, but here should be added to the "threat of violating human rights and civil rights." 16:00 Lawyers unsuccessfully trying to figure out what kind of human rights violations have in mind. Little wife is trying to clarify the point of "failure to take effective measures to prevent extremist activities." He asked whether the Ministry of Justice is known about the timely letters addressed to the center of Jehovah's Witnesses over the MPO, the inclusion of certain material in FSEM? Ministry of Justice is known. The next question is that, according to the ministry, it would be an effective measure? The Ministry of Justice does not know the exact answer to this question. The lawyer asked the representative of the Ministry of Justice, whether there is a criterion of extremist activity, inaction? Obvious to everyone that there is no such criterion. 16:10 Little wife asked whether the Ministry of Justice that materials deemed extremist known to comprise 0.1% of the Witnesses literature. Ministry of Justice is unknown. Did the Ministry of Justice, that the Rostov Regional Court, admitted the 34 publications of Jehovah's Witnesses extremist, at the same time refused to recognize the extremist dozens of others. 16:19 Little wife specifies whether the Ministry of Justice that the literature is not imported into Russia for two years know. Ministry of Justice is known. Then the question arises, why in 2017 the Ministry of Justice raised the issue of liquidation. The Ministry of Justice can not give evidence to support that in the last 12 months, the Administrative Center of spreading "extremist" literature. 16:13 The Ministry of Justice reports that FSEM not specify the date of making the materials in this list. 16:24 The judge asked the Ministry representative, whether it is possible to claim a religious organization, as well as customs, because the country imported materials that are recognized as extremist in the future? How to know in advance that a particular material will be included in FSEM. The representative of the Ministry of Justice: does only apply to FSEM. 16:30 The defendant's representative Yuri Toporov trying to figure out that the Justice Ministry is investing in the concept of "structural unit of the worldwide organization of Jehovah's Witnesses." What is a "global organization"? This is some kind of a legal entity? The Ministry of Justice believes that there is, we are talking about a canonical concept. What is a "structural unit"? We are talking about a legal concept? No, rather the canonical connection. Another question: in what sense the Ministry of Justice uses this term in relation to the MPO, saying they are "structural units of the Administrative Center"? In the canonical or legal? The representative of the Ministry of Justice considers that it is identical. 16:37 Axes, trying to figure out whether the law on extremism to be rendered "structural unit" without making the organization. The Ministry of Justice is forced to admit that the warning should be made throughout the organization. 16:40 Topo is a natural question: if the warning was issued by the local religious organization and is not issued Administrative Center, as then, this local organization may be "structural division" center? Nothing. 16:42 The Ministry of Justice is now considered that the imposition of preventing "structural unit" is not prohibited by law, which means that the prosecutor's office could do it. What is not forbidden is allowed. The judge specifies the ministry representative, sent there then at least some notice of a religious organization (Administrative Center)? There is no evidence that such notifications were sent. 16:46 Topo a new question to the Ministry of Justice. whether the law provides for the possibility of countering extremism to eliminate the "structural unit" without the liquidation of the organization? The representative of the Ministry of Justice, "According to your interpretation, does not provide." The judge asked the plaintiff to accept the answer of the Ministry in this form.

15:25 The judge asked the Ministry of Justice will explain their assertion that the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses is a threat to public safety. The Ministry of Justice said the threat of unspecified persons. 15:30 The judge asked the representative of the Ministry of Justice, if they are asked to ban Jehovah's Witnesses, will be whether the faithful gathered for prayer, under the threat of criminal prosecution. Ministry of Justice: Yes, if the court finds them guilty of violating Art. 282.2 UFPA. 15:34 The judge asked the representative of the Ministry of Justice on the Federal List of Extremist Materials (FSEM) Russian Ministry of Justice. Court interested in the question: whether the Justice Department is reviewing this list?The representative of the Ministry of Justice hesitant voice informs the court that sometimes this list may be revised. 15:39 Judge sends defendants the opportunity to ask questions of the Ministry of Justice. 15:40 Lawyer little wife primarily asks the court to refuse to accept a copy of the court decision, which a few days ago the Ministry of Justice presented to the court. The court described the case when some parents brought in the child patient hospital. Doctors diagnosed low hemoglobin and proposed drug therapy or blood transfusion. Parents preferred drugs, but the hospital went to court with a demand to provide it with a blank check for the use of donated blood. The decision also mentioned that there was no threat to life, it was about the planned treatment. The lawyer points out that the court decision does not mention any of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization. 15:50 The judge asked the representative of the Ministry of Justice if there is no mention of Jehovah's Witnesses, then what does this document is in the present case. 15:53 Judge defers ruling on the admission of this document. 15:54 Lawyer little wife starts asking questions to the representative of the Justice Ministry. The first question is whether the Ministry of Justice information about any whatsoever offenses which are committed under the influence of the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses entered in FSEM. Reply by the representative of the Ministry: "There is no such information, we do not have." lawyer "little wife " is a mistranslation from russian it is suppose to be Lawyer Zhenkov

I HOPE THE INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE IS NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE PLANNING TO ARREST EVERYONE RIGHT AFTER THE VERDICT. 14:30 The hearing began with the defendants' application to suspend the hearing due to the fact that the private complaint filed yesterday's failure of the court to satisfy the majority of the 17 petitions declared. The hearing shall be suspended pending the outcome of these complaints. 14:33 The Ministry of Justice objected to the suspension of the proceedings. Court retire to the deliberation room. 14:37 Court rejects petition to suspend the hearing. Omelchenko lawyer seeks to adduce material, which may indicate the political persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses. We are talking about the documents of foreign organizations such as the UN, OSCE, official statements about human rights organizations, as well as archival documents. 14:40 The court decided to grant the application for the admission of these materials. Court reports are the case and gave the floor to the Ministry of Justice. 14:45 The representative of the Ministry of Justice Borisov proceeds to the presentation of the arguments justifying the prohibition of all the organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. It lists the court judgments delivered against local religious organizations (LRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses. 15:12 Concluding his speech, the representative of the Ministry of Justice asked the court to liquidate all Jehovah's Witnesses, to remove them from the register of legal entities and ban their activities. Asks confiscate the property and pay the court's decision to immediate execution (that is, not to wait for the decision enters into force). The judge sets the representative of the Ministry of Justice a counter-question: why is the Ministry of Justice asked both to eliminate legal person and to ban their activity. Judge perplexed: how can you prohibit something that does not exist. He specifies whether you want to prohibit the Ministry of Justice and all unregistered groups? The representative of the Ministry of Justice explained that the ban does not ask them, because Jehovah's Witnesses have not provided the agency information on unregistered groups. 15:16 New clarifying questions of the judge on what basis the Ministry of Justice applies prejudicial approach to the management center, if the center is not to involve in business. Prejudice is applicable in the case already in force decisions (ie the court relies upon them as already established fact) only in respect of the same legal subjects. Accordingly, the court decisions handed down in relation to MPO can not be prejudicial force for a centralized organization. 15:17 The representative of the Ministry of Justice argues that the Administrative Center knew about the court cases, and the center's lawyers were present at them. 15:20 The Ministry of Justice in its lawsuit claims the need to eliminate religious organizations due to the fact that organizations, in their opinion, violate the rights of citizens. The court sets a representative Borisova another clarifying question: what kind of citizens' rights are violated? Borisov said that it is entitled to receive medical treatment. According to them, the organization prevent citizens to get medical treatment. In response to the buzz in the room the judge asks those present to contain their emotions. 15:24 The judge asked whether the Ministry of Justice proof of their assertions about the medical treatment. The Ministry of Justice is not willing to provide them. Judge perplexed again, because the Ministry of Justice recently held a large-scale inspection of Jehovah's Witnesses and, if there were such facts, they should have been identified.

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PLEASE GO TO : DAY 2 RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT TRANSCRIPT LIVE UPDATES JW VS. RUSSIA FOR TODAYS UPDATES, WITH PICTURES AND TRANSCRIPT TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN INTO ENGLISH .THANKS, BRUCE

12:00 Weather in Moscow is warm and sunny. Near the entrance to the court formed a large human place. Working television journalists. Among those present a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. A marked increase in security measures. Directly at the entrance there is a bus with the police. At the input it is carried out a thorough inspection. Inside the building are not skipped any liquids. The employees of the Supreme Court, organizing hearings, doing their job professionally and smoothly. Despite the large number of students, there are no failures.

Mass persecution inevitable if Russia bans the Jehovah’s Witnesses as ’extremist’ Russian police break through the gates of a Kingdonm Hall in Nezlobnaya, Photo JW site Russia’s Supreme Court appears to be on the verge of banning the Jehovah’s Witnesses after a Justice Ministry application which claimed that this world faith is ‘extremist’. The same Court on April 5 rejected a counter-suit lodged by the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Centre asking that the actions of the ministry be declared political repression and that representatives of local communities be called to testify to such persecution. It claimed essentially that this was not within its jurisdiction. This new move follows constant repression at regional level. The Jehovah’s Witnesses had also fruitlessly asked the Court to adjourn the proceedings until general jurisdiction courts had issued their rulings in cases where bans are being sought on 9 regional branches and where 90 texts are accused of being ‘extremist’. All applications were rejected, including the most obvious, namely that religious specialists and linguistic experts be called in to give their professional assessment of the so-called ‘extremism’. The justice ministry application was lodged on March 15, with this asking the Supreme Court to dissolve – as ‘extremist’ – both the Administrative Centre, and 395 regional branches. Their activities were suspended pending the Court ruling. The authoritative Sova Centre has stated that there are no legitimate grounds for any such ban, and calls the move a clear demonstration of religious discrimination. According to the official website, there are over 170 thousand Witnesses in Russia who will all face the threat of persecution for their faith if the ministry’s application is allowed. Nikolai Mitrokhin, a researcher on, among other things, the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in modern Russia, is convinced that the justice minister Alexander Konovalov is seeking to please Patriarch Kirill, head of the Church by initiating this ban. He points out that, against a background of continuing acts of terrorism, a high level of crime and total corruption, the law enforcement bodies will be deployed in preventing the activities of 170 thousand active members, as well as hundreds of thousands of people who support them, family members, etc. Russia will have a new generation of martyrs for their faith. There can be nothing extremist about “reading the Bible, singing and praying with fellow worshippers”, as the world headquarters have asked all believers to stress in letters to President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other top officials, as well as the Head of the Supreme Court. The Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid any involvement in politics and refuse to take up arms, which has led to their persecution in many countries. This ban, however, would be a dangerous first for post-Soviet Russia, and one with devastating consequences both for the thousands of believers who will immediately face persecution and for religious freedom in Russia generally. http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1491432606

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Everything you need to know about Jehovah’s Witnesses World April 05, 19:30UTC+3 Jehovah’s Witnesses are outlawed in many countries including China, North Korea, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq Share 1 © Alexander Demyanchuk/TASS Russia’s Supreme Court is considering the question of declaring the organization calling itself the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia as extremist and of prohibiting it in the whole territory of Russia. The request was filed by the Justice Ministry. Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses? Jehovah’s Witnesses is an international religious organization founded by preacher Charles Russel in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the USA in the 1870s. Its original name was the Bible Student Movement. Its current name - Jehovah’s Witnesses - was adopted in 1931. Many experts on religious affairs believe the organization is a sect. Doctrine Although Jehovah’s Witnesses use Christian terminology, they position themselves as a newly-founded religious group. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject most Christian dogmas, such as creation of the world, inherent immortality of the soul and Trinitarianism. They recognize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They expect an early end of the world and the emergence of God’s Kingdom on earth to which only the worthy ones will be admitted. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not smoke or use alcohol or drugs. They are against divorce, defy government institutions and civic duties, refuse to serve in the army and do not permit blood transfusions. Each adherent is expected to unconditionally obey the will and aims of the organization. Nobody is allowed to leave it of one’s own accord. The movement expects its members to be hostile against all those who do not recognize its teaching. For this reason Jehovah’s Witnesses are often accused of inciting religious enmity. Activities and structure Jehovah’s Witnesses’ main activity is door-to-door preaching and trade in printed products. In the United States they are allowed to appear on the radio and television. For attaining its aims the movement uses a number of legal entities, of which the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is the oldest and most well-known. The organization’s budget consists of donations and proceeds from trade in printed matter. The movement has a multi-tier administrative structure with a 10-15-seat governing board at the top. As a rule all of the board’s members are appointed for life. There are religious and administrative centers in Warwick, Wallkill and Patterson, (the state of New York). Jehovah’s Witnesses have branches around the world, with active membership estimated at about 8 million. Jehovah’s Witnesses are outlawed in many countries, including China, North Korea, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Russian Empire In 1891 the movement’s leader Charles Russel visited the Black Sea port city of Odessa while touring Europe. Jehovah’s Witnesses’ books appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. The first ones were in German. In 1911, the first Russian language version of the Watch Tower Society’s tract was out of print. Initially the movement’s following in Russia was tiny. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Soviet Union In the 1920s a small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses existed in Kharkov, Ukraine. Preacher George Young was sent from the United States to help it grow. In 1927 he obtained permission from the Soviet authorities to publish booklets explaining the movement’s fundamental beliefs in 15,000 copies. At that moment the local chapter had no more than several hundred members. READ ALSO UN experts voice concern over possible ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia The Soviet Union saw a quick upsurge in the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1939-1940 after the Soviet Union incorporated Western Ukraine, Northern Bukovina and also the Baltics, where Jehovah’s Witnesses had created a number of large communities in the 1920s and 1930s. The organization reported 4,797 active members in the Soviet Union in 1946. Jehovah’s Witnesses were subjected to repression due to their refusal to join the Young Communist League and the Communist Party, as well as for their ties with the United States. The state security police repeatedly exiled Jehovah’s witnesses to Siberia, Kazakhstan and the Far East as part of campaigns against what was described as "anti-Soviet elements." The first major deportation was in June 1949. Another followed in 1951. About 10,000 people were exiled all in all. In 1965, the Supreme Soviet’s Presidium (the Soviet parliament’s top administrative agency between full-scale sessions) lifted administrative supervision from Jehovah’s Witnesses and canceled all residency restrictions. In 1979 the Soviet Union had 25,600 Jehovah’s Witnesses. At the end of the 1970s 60% of them were resident in the territory of today’s Moldova and 20%, in Western Ukraine. On March 14, 1996 President Boris Yeltsin issued a decree to rehabilitate all Jehovah’s Witnesses deported to Siberia and declare them as victims of political repression. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia On March 27, 1991 Jehovah’s Witnesses obtained official registration from Russia’s Justice Ministry. The first regional center was created in Moscow at about the same time. In June 1997, the finishing touches were put to the building of the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the community of Solnechnoye, the Leningrad Region (now the territory is a neighborhood of St. Petersburg). On April 29, 1999, with the adoption of Russia’s new law on the freedom of conscience the Administrative Center Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia obtained registration from Russia’s Justice Ministry. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses’ latest estimates the organization at the beginning of 2017 had 395 local chapters with a total membership of 175,000. No independent statistics of the organization’s membership are available. Court rulings regarding Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia For the first time the demand for banning Jehovah’s Witnesses was considered in a Moscow district court in 1998. The prosecutor’s office of the Northern district of Moscow accused the Moscow community of Jehovah’s Witnesses of inciting religious discord, ruining families, forcing gravely ill patients to refuse to accept medical assistance and other violations. The hearings lasted with intermissions till 2004. The Moscow chapter of Jehovah’s Witnesses was stripped of its registration. Jehovah’s Witnesses appealed the decision in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. In 2010 the ECHR declared the Russian court’s ruling illegal and awarded a compensation of 70,000 euros to the Jehovahites. On February 15, the same court in Moscow turned down the ECHR’s ruling and refused to sustain the demand for overturning its own ban of the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The official registration of the Moscow Chapter of Jehovah’s Witnesses was renewed in June 2015. READ ALSO Russian court turns down Jehovah’s Witnesses’ bid for ‘victim of repression’ status Russia designates myriad of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ materials as extremist Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia suspended over extremism Jehovah’s Witnesses say they have no suspension orders from Justice Ministry yet In 2009-2013 courts in the Rostov Region, Republic of Altai, Kemerovo Region and Krasnodar Territory recognized several dozen Jehovahite publications as extremist. At the moment about 100 titles of such publications and two Internet sites are on the federal list of extremist items. In 2009, the Rostov Regional Court declared as extremist and banned a community in Taganrog. Similar decisions followed in Samara in 2014, Abinsk, the Krasnodar Territory in 2015, and Belgorod and Stary Oskol (the Belgorod Region) in 2016. Russia’s telecom and mass communications watchdog Roskomnadzor in 2010 prohibited publication of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ magazines in Russia for their extremist content. On December 2014, Russia’s Supreme Court passed a resolution to declare the central site of the international organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses as extremist. On October 12, 2016 a court in Moscow warned the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses over its extremist activities. Under Russian legislation the organization that has received such a warning is obliged to eliminate the committed violations. If it fails to do so, the organization is to be outlawed and closed down. On January 16, 2017 the Moscow City Court upheld the warning addressed to Jehovah’s witnesses. On March 15, 2017 the Ministry of Justice asked the Supreme Court to declare the Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia as extremist and to outlaw and terminate its activities. On March 23, the Justice Ministry suspended the organization’s activities in Russia. More:http://tass.com/world/939582

Most read TASS NEWS AGENCY Now Today This week 1 Russian court turns down Jehovah’s Witnesses’ bid for ‘victim of repression’ status 2 Russia’s top court puts off hearing on Jehovah’s Witnesses bid to fight ban until April 6 3 UN experts voice concern over possible ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia 4 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia suspended over extremism 5 Russia designates myriad of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ materials as extremist 6 Jehovah’s Witnesses say they have no suspension orders from Justice Ministry yet 7 Kremlin says Putin skilled at brushing off ‘vulgarities’ hurled against him More:http://tass.com/politics/939572

TAGS MEDIA PRESS RELEASES INFOGRAPHICS Moscow orlusiness & Econilitary & DeScience & Sess Review Russia’s top court puts off hearing on Jehovah’s Witnesses bid to fight ban until April 6 Russian Politics & Diplomacy April 05, 17:33 UTC+3 If the court satisfies the Justice Ministry’s petition and it comes into legal force, members of this religious organization could be charged with a criminal offense Share 54 Russia’s Supreme court © Artiom Korotaev/TASS MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. Russia’s Supreme Court has postponed a hearing on outlawing the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organization along with its 395 local branches and confiscating its property until April 6, a TASS correspondent reports. READ ALSO Russian court turns down Jehovah’s Witnesses’ bid for ‘victim of repression’ status Through its decision, the court satisfied a motion entered by the Jehovah’s Witnesses representatives to get acquainted with their case files. Earlier in the day, the court turned down a number of their appeals - on adjudicating a counterclaim against the Russian Justice Ministry for allegedly repressing the organization and for the participation of its 395 local branches in the court hearings. If the court satisfies the Justice Ministry’s petition and it comes into legal force, members of this religious organization could be charged with a criminal offense under Article 282.1 ("Creation of an Extremist Community") of the Russian Criminal Code. In its lawsuit, the ministry pointed to various violations in the organization’s activities revealed during a surprise inspection, including of the Law on Counteracting Extremist Activities. For its part, the organization’s press service told TASS that they were alarmed by the decision, since it could affect 175,000 active believers. On October 12, 2016, Moscow’s Tverskoy district court issued a warning to the Jehovah’s Witnesses Administrative Center in connection with the revelations of extremism there. Under Russian law, a religious association or organization is subject to termination if it does not remedy the specified manifestations of extremism before the required deadline or displays new ones. READ ALSO Russia designates myriad of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ materials as extremist On January 16, 2017, Moscow City Court passed a resolution that corroborated the validity of the warning for extremist activities. The Jehovah’s Witnesses is an international religious organization that supports offbeat views on the essence of the Christian faith and provides special interpretations of many commonly accepted notions. In Russia, it had 21 local organizations but three of them were eliminated for extremism. More:http://tass.com/politics/939572

Russia court considers Jehovah's Witnesses ban Image captionRussia's justice ministry argues that Jehovah's Witnesses pamphlets incite hatred Russia's Supreme Court has begun hearing a government request to outlaw the Jehovah's Witnesses and declare it an extremist organisation. The justice ministry has already placed its headquarters near St Petersburg on a list of extremist groups. More than seven million people worldwide are part of the Christian-based movement, best known for going door to door looking for new converts. It has 175,000 members in Russia and 395 branches across the country. As the case began in Moscow on Wednesday, lawyers representing the movement submitted a counter suit, asking the High Court to declare its members victims of political repression and the justice ministry's action unlawful. The court ruled that this was not part of its jurisdiction, but did not say whose it was, Russia's legal information agency reported. The case was eventually adjourned until Thursday. The ministry argues that the Jehovah's Witnesses' activities "violate Russia's law on combating extremism" and their pamphlets incited hatred against other groups. Jehovah's Witnesses representative Yaroslav Sivulsky told the BBC that the movement had nothing to do with extremism and he complained that in every case the courts never really listened to their arguments. One pamphlet quoted the novelist Leo Tolstoy, describing the doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church as superstition and sorcery, according to BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford. Russian struggle for Jehovah's Witnesses The group was founded in the US in the late 19th Century and during Joseph Stalin's reign of terror in the Soviet Union it was outlawed and thousands of members were deported to Siberia. Other Christian groups were also persecuted. Read more here: Jehovah's Witnesses at a glance As the Soviet Union collapsed, there was a revival of Christianity in Russia and the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses was lifted in 1991. Image copyrightAFP Jehovah's Witnesses baptism in Prague (2003 pic) Gradually attitudes towards the movement hardened and in 2004 a group was banned on charges of recruiting children and preventing believers from accepting medical assistance. Witnesses take most of the Bible literally and refuse blood transfusions. They are not seen by traditional Christian Churches as a mainstream denomination. In 2009 a report commissioned by prosecutors in southern Russia found that they "undermined respect" in other religions. Human rights group Sova has said that an "official repressive campaign" has been conducted against the movement for years and many of their members have been physically attacked.

American connection used against Jehovah's Witnesses EXPERTS OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE POSIT THAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE CLEARLY TIED TO U.S.A. RIA Novosti, 5 April 2017 The activity of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses is clearly tied to the U.S.A.; after all, their headquarters are located there. According to some information, they have much property in Russia also, experts in the Russian Ministry of Justice who were questioned by RIA Novosti declare. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the RF is considering a lawsuit by the Russian Ministry of Justice to find Russian Jehovah's Witnesses to be an extremist organization and to ban its activity on the territory of Russia. In particular, the Ministry of Justice requested the confiscation of the property of the parent organization of Jehovists in the Russian federation. "This is a sect of American origin, clearly tied to America. It is inclined to hostility to many states, including Russia, but they are not hostile to America, since it is there that their headquarters are located (in New York—ed.)," Roman Silantiev, a member of the Expert Council for Conducting State Religious Studies Expert Analysis under the Ministry of Justice, told RIA Novosti. According to his information, the Jehovah's Witnesses have much property in Russia. "They have their center outside St. Petersburg, in the village of Solnechny. This is a rather substantial acreage with buildings on it. Plus, many of the registered organizations own parcels of land on which they build Kingdom Halls, their houses of worship," noted in his turn Alexander Dvorkin, the president of the Russian Association of Centers for Study of Religions and Sects and member of the Expert Council for Conducting State Religious Studies Expert Analysis under the Ministry of Justice. (tr. by PDS, posted 5 April 2017) THIS STATEMENT :"THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HAVE MUCH PROPERTY IN RUSSIA REMINDS ME OF EZEKIEL 38:10-13 :"10 “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘In that day thoughts will come into your heart, and you will devise an evil plan. 11 You will say: “I will invade the land of unprotected settlements.*+ I will come against those living in security, without disturbance, all of them living in settlements unprotected by walls, bars, or gates.” 12 It will be to take much spoil and plunder, to attack the devastated places that are now inhabited+and a people regathered from the nations,+ who are accumulating wealth and property,+ those who are living in the center of the earth.13 “‘Sheʹba+ and Deʹdan,+ the merchants of Tarʹshish+and all its warriors* will say to you: “Are you invading to get much spoil and plunder? Have you assembled your armies to carry off silver and gold, to take wealth and property, to seize a very great spoil?”’ BRUCEQ

Supreme Court begins consideration of case against Jehovah's Witnesses SUPREME COURT DECLARES RECESS UNTIL THURSDAY IN REVIEW OF SUIT TO BAN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN RUSSIA Interfax-Religiia, 5 April 2017 The Russian Supreme Court will continue on 6 April consideration of the lawsuit of the Ministry of Justice to rule the Russian Jehovah's Witnesses to be an extremist organization and to ban its activity on the territory of the country. As an Interfax correspondent reports, the court declared a recess in order to give time to representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses to acquaint themselves with additional materials that the Ministry of Justice presented. Earlier on Wednesday the Supreme Court of the RF rejected a petition from the Jehovah's Witnesses to suspend the proceedings on the justice ministry's lawsuit with regard to this organization. Lawyers for the Jehovists requested to suspend the proceedings on the lawsuit until the issuance of decisions by courts of general jurisdiction in a number of cases. In particular, at the present time courts are considering the recognition of 90 printed materials of the Jehovists as extremist, as well as eight cases for the prohibition of the activity of regional divisions. As reported, the lawsuit against the religious organization was filed on 15 March, and at that time the work of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia was suspended by order of the Ministry of Justice until consideration of the lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the RF because of their extremist activity. Thus, according to materials on the ministry's website, from 2009 to 2016, 95 materials of the Jehovah's Witnesses that were imported and distributed in Russia were ruled to be extremist and also eight local religious divisions of Jehovah's Witnesses that were members of the structure of the organization were banned and liquidated. (tr. by PDS, posted 5 April 2017)

15:28 The court adjourned until April 6, 2017 14:00.

15:05 Omelchenko lawyer intercedes for the recovery of craft books that were considered "extremist" and which formed the basis of this lawsuit to ban Jehovah's Witnesses religion. Counsel emphasizes that it is necessary to study the question of whether these statements are dangerous enough that on this basis significantly restrict the right of 300 thousand Russian citizens. He draws attention to the legal requirement that the restrictions must be justified and proportionate to the constitutionally significant goals. 15:15 Omelchenko provides examples of statements in the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, because of which these publications were recognized as extremist. 15:28 The court adjourned until April 6, 2017 14:00.

Report: Supreme Court to hear the case to ban the Jehovah's Witnesses religion April 5, 2017 Trying to complete ban Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia The Russian Supreme Court began hearings on the suit on the Elimination of Jehovah's Witnesses. It conducted a text report from the courtroom. 10:58 Big beautiful courtroom crowded. There are more than 200 people, including many journalists, representatives of public organizations and foreign embassies. The hearing began at 10:30. A little less than 250 people were left on the street waiting for the results of the hearing. Cook Street in Moscow is filled with cars with transmitting television antennas. Occurring remove numerous chamber. Of police radios periodically hear the message "All is calm, without incident." In the hall representatives of embassies and international organizations in the headphones listening to the process of translation. The case was heard Judge Yuri Ivanenko. The defendant, "the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" are 6 persons, including Vasily Kalin of the Steering Committee, as well as lawyers. The representative of Ministry of Justice of Russia - Svetlana Borisova. Attached to the case with the defendant's objections to the applications in 35 volumes. The court allowed the photographing and video recording only when the announcement of the final act. However, there is no record of obstacles. In the hall there are about 40 members of the media, they occupy the first rows of the audience. 11:00 The court refused to accept a counter claim for recognition of the Ministry of Justice acts of political repression. The judge described the passage of objections to the claim sufficient measure of protection for the defendant. 11:15 Representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses apply for admission to participation in the case of representatives of all 395 local religious organizations. Lawyer little wife: "If believers throughout Russia will be deprived of their rights, let them hear it here in court." Local religious organizations, contrary to the logic of the Ministry of Justice, are not the structural units of each other, but separate legal entities. 11:20 The lawyer Lew gives an example: "The logic of the Ministry of Justice, it turns out, it is necessary to impose a sentence: Shoot chieftain. And his whole platoon. " 11:25 The court rejected the enlistment of the 395 local organizations as a respondent. 11:30 Jehovah's Witnesses have asked the court to allow audio broadcasting the trial. The court refused. 11:35 Lawyers for the Jehovah's Witnesses are asking the court to adjourn the hearing pending the outcome of another case in another court. It is an appeal to the Court of Justice order the suspension of the activities of organizations . 11:42 The Ministry of Justice objected, because it believes that the authorities had every right to suspend the activities of organizations. 11:45 The court refused to postpone the hearing. 11:50 Omelchenko lawyer seeks the abandonment of the claim without consideration of the Ministry of Justice. The plaintiff is not complied with the pre-trial procedure for settling claims to the 395 communities of Jehovah's Witnesses. Before you make a claim for the liquidation of 395 local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, the authorities, by law, had to make an official warning each of them and to give time to correct them. 11:55 The second reason for the abandonment without consideration of this claim lies in the fact that the Russian courts have treated similar cases of liquidation and recognition of the "extremist" 2 out of 395 local Jehovah's Witnesses organizations (Karachay-Cherkessia and the Samara region). 12:05 The Court dismissed the petition on the abandonment without consideration. 12:10 Representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses are asked to postpone the hearing for one week due to the fact that the Ministry of Justice sent a statement of claim to the defendant in time. It came in the mail only to March 28, 2017. In addition, the Ministry of Justice to provide the defendant not all documents specified in the annexes to the statement of claim. 12:17 The Ministry of Justice does not object to the adjournment of the case. 12:19 The court refused to postpone the case. 12:20 Lawyer little wife seeks the suspension of the case due to the fact that in a number of Russian vessels submitted applications for consideration in force decisions of the courts on newly discovered evidence. We are talking about the revision in force of affairs on the Elimination of 8 local religious organizations (MPO) and the introduction of 88 publications of Jehovah's Witnesses in FSEM. The fact that all those court decisions were made without the involvement of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, since the Ministry of Justice insisted that the court decisions in relation to the LRO not affect the rights of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. In the present case the Ministry of Justice changed position and now all accusations against MPO, imputed to the Administrative Center. 12:30 The Ministry of Justice objected to the suspension, considering that, in cases involving MPO attended the same lawyers as in the case of liquidation of the MPO. 12:33 The court retired to the deliberation room. 13:50 The Court went out of the deliberation room. The suspension of the case was denied. 13:55 Little wife's lawyer said the petition to bring to participate in the case of experts, namely the religious scholars and linguists. Specialists may clarify whether are really extremist and dangerous texts that form the basis of the requirements of the Ministry of Justice to ban an entire religion in Russia. 14:00 Asked by the judge whether to propose lawyers to arrange a "revision" of court decisions, which was included in the literature FSEM lawyers explained that this information will be important to determine the proportionality of the Ministry of Justice requirements. 14:04 The representative of the Ministry of Justice objected to the admission of experts for the hearing. 14:05 The court refused to attract specialists to the hearing. 14:06 The lawyer asks little wife get to take part in the 9 foreign legal persons representing the religious communities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Europe and America. The reason is that the Ministry of Justice in its lawsuit asks the court to confiscate properties belonging to these organizations. 14:14 The court refused to attract foreign companies to participate in the case. 14:15 Omelchenko said the lawyer about bringing a motion to participate in the proceedings as interested parties of eight Russian citizens who were rehabilitated as victims of political repression. These people present in the room. Lawyers argue convincingly that these people rehabilitated from the turn in the case of satisfaction of the claim to the "extremists". 14:20 The Ministry of Justice said that the court decides on the liquidation of legal entities, it does not apply to individuals. In his reply the lawyer reminded the little wife that such considerations were guided by Soviet authorities, banning the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, however, repression of painful blow it for the people, so that they have been rehabilitated. 14:25 Court denies the petition. 14:30 Lawyers apply for the interrogation of individual citizens, followers of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses who can testify about what measures have been taken by Jehovah's Witnesses in order to prevent extremist activity. 14:35 The Ministry of Justice does not object. The court granted. 14:40 Lawyers say the request for interrogation as witnesses of persons recognized as victims of political repression. The Ministry of Justice objected. Court refuses. 14:43 Representative of Jehovah's Witnesses Nowak said petition for interrogation as witnesses of persons who witnessed falsification of evidence against those who believe in things that the Ministry of Justice uses in his lawsuit as "further evidence of the offense." 14:45 On the judge's objection that it comes to an effective decision, Novak says that in the present case can not be used prejudicial approach, because it is a different legal entity. The court must examine the evidence directly. Novakov tells the court about the circumstances and tossed perjuredly indications in a number of Russian cities. 15:00 The Ministry of Justice objected, arguing that the questioning, they believe authorities, aims to "to review the decision to enter into force." The court refused to examine witnesses evidence of fraud simple local Jehovah's Witnesses organizations.