Public Designation Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights of Vladimir Yermolayev and Stepan Tkach, Officials of the Investigative Committee in the Russian Federation

[cobaltbluetony]

US State Department officially designates 2 Russian officials as 'persona non grata', or unwelcome, specifically because of their involvement in the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

The article specifically says:

Quote

 

Despite posing no threat to Russia’s national security, over 60 Jehovah’s Witnesses are currently awaiting trial on criminal charges in prison or under house arrest, with approximately 250 more currently under investigation.  In February 2019, Jehovah’s Witness Dennis Christensen was given a six-year prison term merely for practicing his faith.  Jehovah’s Witnesses also frequently face property seizure, police raids, discrimination, and other forms of pressure from the state.  These developments underscore the increasingly repressive environment faced by religious minorities in the Russian Federation, which led to the Department adding Russia to the International Religious Freedom Special Watch List in 2018.

 

Russia should end its unjust campaign against the Jehovah’s Witnesses and immediately release the over 200 individuals it currently has imprisoned for exercising their freedom of religion or belief.  We further call on the Russian authorities to end the culture of impunity for torture and hold officials accountable for abuses, including those perpetrated against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Surgut.

 

[Emphasis mine.]

 

The language is clear and just, even if such a statement will have little to no effect on the Russian government.

Edited September 19, 2019 by cobaltbluetony

[sunshine]

Good.  While I have no illusions that the US Govenment is playing their own game of "push and shove" with Russian (KOTN v KOTS) and we are just useful pawns to them, Jehovah can manipulate events as he so wishes and He will.

 

At the very least Jehovah's name is mentioned here at the highest levels and the world is informed of the gross and unjust treatment of  our brothers in Russia.   

Edited September 19, 2019 by sunshine

[humble bumble bee]

Just to say it is discussed in this thread as well

Two Russians Denied Entry To USA Over JW Torture

 

 

[cobaltbluetony]

On 9/19/2019 at 9:47 AM, humblebumblebee said:

Just to say it is discussed in this thread as well

Two Russians Denied Entry To USA Over JW Torture

 

 

Anton is my source as well.  He is a Russian journalist, brother, and works extensively on the officiel jw-russia-dot-org website.