Wee-ending 5 June 2020
Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group: ‘In a shocking escalation of repression in occupied Crimea, a Russian-controlled court has revoked the fine imposed upon Ukrainian Jehovah’s Witness Artem Gerasimov and sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment. The 35-year-old was taken into custody in the courtroom.’
Source:
Crimean Court Jails Jehovah’s Witness For Six Years For ‘Extremist’ Activity
A court in Russian-annexed Crimea has sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness to six years in prison for being a member of an extremist group. The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, a Ukrainian organization, called the sentencing of Artyom Gerasimov on June 4 “a shocking escalation of repression in occupied Crimea.” Russia officially banned the Jehovah’s Witnesses in April 2017 and deemed it an “extremist organization,” despite widespread condemnation from Western countries and human rights groups. The Supreme Court in Crimea ruled in an appeal on June 4 that Gerasimov should serve six years in a penal colony. RFE/RL, 4 June2020
