Russia challenges landmark ECHR judgment

09-14-10 • http://jw-media.org

Government seeks to continue illegal ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses ST. PETERSBURG, Russia—On September 9, 2010, Russia officially challenged the unanimous decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) stating that Russia’s ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow is illegal. The Russian government requested that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber. According to the judgment handed down on June 10, 2010, the Russian government “has a legal obligation . . . to put an end to the violation found by the Court and to redress so far as possible the effects.” The unanimous decision of the ECHR made clear that the liquidation and ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was in violation of fundamental human rights guaranteed by the European Convention, including freedom of religion and freedom of peaceful association. Reversing the ban on the Witnesses and restoring their status as an officially registered religious association in Moscow would be an important step forward for Russia regarding fr