Russia's Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Jehovah's Witnesses three years ago. The Justice Department classifies the community established in the USA as "extremist". Since then, the authorities have cracked down on supporters of the religious community.
Now the responsible investigative committee in Moscow has initiated new criminal proceedings against Jehovah's Witnesses for extremist activities. Followers of the community have studied "religious literature" as well as other scriptures that "propagate the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses," said the investigative committee. Further followers have also been recruited.
The Ministry of the Interior, the domestic secret service FSB and the National Guard were also involved in the raids in Moscow and more than 20 other regions of the country, it said.
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