On July 28, 2014, the Taganrog City Court will announce its decision in the 15-month-long criminal trial of 16 of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Taganrog authorities are criminally prosecuting the Witnesses for organizing and attending religious meetings and for sharing their faith with others—activities common to Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide. If the Witnesses are convicted in Taganrog, it would set a precedent for authorities throughout Russia to criminalize Jehovah’s Witnesses for practicing their faith.

Media Contact(s):

International: J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5000

Russia: Grigory Martynov, tel. +7 812 702 2691