In the ten years leading up to the Supreme Court decision, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia were victims of a government-sponsored attack against their religious freedom that subjected them to much harassment. Now in the aftermath of the decision, their security is even less certain. The decision vilifies the Witnesses and has emboldened some individuals and government officials to inflict further harm, as exemplified by these recent incidents. Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide are greatly concerned about what will happen to their fellow Witnesses in Russia if the Appellate Chamber of the Supreme Court upholds the decision when it considers the case on July 17, 2017.

Mr. Brumley stated: “No one has presented any evidence that even remotely links Jehovah’s Witnesses with extremism. The alleged danger that the Witnesses are accused of posing to society is in no way commensurate with the persecution they have already endured. Russia needs to rethink its actions against Jehovah’s Witnesses in light of its constitution and its international agreements that guarantee religious freedom.”