bruceq

“I am standing before the judgment seat of Caesar...I have done no wrong to the Jews, of which you are...well-aware." Acts 25:10
Russian Supreme Court Verdict: Unfortunately, Judge satisfies MOJ claim in full. (Russia VS Jehovah's Witnesses) #stopjwban #JWrussia

ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER - LEGAL ENTITY OF JW IN RUSSIA
Nothing happens yet. Judge is still in his consultation room

17:18 The hall is filled with television journalists.

Vasily Kalin, president of AC, speaks #jwrussia
16:55 Kalin representative acts of the defendant: "unreasonable and reckless accusation of the Ministry of Justice not only demeans themselves and their functions, but humiliates the entire state in the eyes of the international community. If the distinguished representative of the Ministry of Justice has a personal conviction that Jehovah's Witnesses - the extremists, I'm sorry. If a representative of the Ministry of Justice has become a victim of circumstances, in which he has fallen, and is forced to perform the role of a prosecutor, I'm sorry, too. But in either case, you have to answer to their own conscience. " 15:56 Kalin recalls the responsibility before God and said: "On this occasion, I want to caution the Prosecutor General's Office and Ministry of Justice. Please come to your senses! Please come to your senses! "
The full text of Vasily Kalin (PDF, 46 KB)
17:00 The sides exchanged remarks.
LIVE VIDEO NOW ACTIVE...HAVING TROUBLE RETRIEVING.
The representative of the Ministry of Justice recalled that the essence of the claim is to eliminate legal person, the Ministry of Justice makes no claim to the individuals. The Ministry of Justice reminds the court testimony of one of the plaintiff's witnesses, who had been expelled the religious community. The Ministry of Justice considers this a violation of the rights of citizens. In response cue little wife recalls that at one time the Russian Orthodox Church excommunicated writer Leo Tolstoy. In our time, the Russian Orthodox Church has refused to revoke the excommunication, despite requests for it. This is an internal matter of the Church. Little wife asked whether the Ministry of Justice did not intend to present a ROC any requirements. 17:09 Court retire to the deliberation room. I HAVE LIVE STREAM IF YOU CANNOT DO ON CHROME USE ANOTHER BROWSER.
https://rus.stream.jw-russia.org/?id=1
EVERYONE PRAY NOW

15:46 Little wife: "In this hall there were a person who was born in prison. Because his mother is 5 months pregnant was sentenced as an enemy of the people for 8 years in prison only because she was a Jehovah's Witness. In prison, she gave birth to a child two years spent in prison orphanage. My father could not take him because he was exiled to Siberia. In 1991, the state has recognized the mother of a victim of political repression, apologized to her a pension. And here in the court of the man, who was born in prison, he approached me and asked: "Is the Ministry of Justice wants a repeat of this terrible story?". And I do not know what to say. I still do not know what moves the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and those who direct the process. "
The full text of Victor Zhenkova (PDF, 171 KB)
15:51 The debate begins representative Ax defendant. 15:52 The debate begins representative Ax defendant. "To accuse Jehovah's Witnesses of extremism - it is like blaming extremism baby. Only the baby is not able to commit extremist activities due to their age, and Jehovah's Witnesses - by virtue of their religious outlook. Calls for them to any violence against human beings, violence, enmity and hatred to the people on any grounds - it is a serious sin against God. " 16:02 Speaking about the autonomy of the MPO, axes refers to the statute of the CA. MPO are endowed with an absolute right without regard to the Administrative Center of will determine the duration of its presence in the said structure, to decide on the Elimination of questions, going to other centralized religious organizations, etc. "UC does not have the right to liquidate the LRO is not their founder ... What a structural subdivision?" - asks the ax. 16:12 Concluding his speech, the ax is entirely lead sentence of human rights activist Leonid Alexeev. At the end she says: "You, dear court, that you are here and you can now remove the injustice and unfair to the hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens, to restore their good name, to strengthen the credibility of the law on countering extremism, clearly shows the difference between these extremists and extremists, painted on a paper. We hope that the court has the courage to do it and make fair and impartial decisions based on the law and the gift of God - the human conscience. " Anton Chivchalov‏ @Chivchalov  2m2 minutes ago More Ludmila Alekseeva, prominent Russian human rights activist #jwrussia

15:13 Omelchenko: Justice Actions do not pursue a legitimate aim, they are all signs of political repression. "Please to meet the administrative requirements of the claimant to deny completely."
The full text of Anton Omelchenko (PDF, 184 KB)
15:16 The debate speaks little wife's lawyer. He begins with personal experience in recent days. He was in one of Moscow's parks and saw that in this park came dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses. They had posters and they do not come out to protest against the trial, which began in the Supreme Court April 5, 2017. They came out to remove debris that had accumulated over the winter. So who are these people? Extremists or good Christians? 15:20 The Ministry of Justice needs to select all liturgical building of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, built by the faithful at his own expense. A similar thing happened in Russia only once, and it was a hundred years ago, in 1918. Then the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the whole property has been selected, including liturgical building, Russian Orthodox Church. 15:27 Little wife: Ministry of Justice suggested that the Jehovah's Witnesses in despair saying that the case against them rigged. However, believers do not despair, says little wife. They believe the Bible says that there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest. And everyone will be held responsible before God for their actions. Just the other day, April 17th, 2017 Russian President approved the amendment to Art. 303 of the Criminal Code now provides for criminal liability for falsification of evidence in administrative matters. However, the problem of fraud is to excite not only the President, but first of all executive authorities such as the Ministry of Justice (Justice in Latin means justice). 15:35 In fact there are dozens of letters: gratitude not only for the improvement of the territory, but for a proactive stance, for assistance to victims of natural disasters for the assistance to internally displaced persons from the territory of Ukraine, with the assistance of the child home for landscaping leisure center for children with disabilities, for participated in a marathon "Help the child", etc. "Is it so happens, that the organization is both useful and dangerous?" - is perplexed little wife. 15:40 Little wife analyzes the testimony of witnesses from both the plaintiff and the defendant. 15:45 The lawyer drew attention to the expert opinions on the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses. "Why should I stop again in the literature? Because literature deemed extremist - it's the only complaint about the Jehovah's Witnesses in extremist activities. "

14:35 The Ministry of Justice believes that the coverage of court as extremist materials solutions give CAs all possible, do not bring into the country the literature that would fall under the reasoning of courts that considered extremist activity. 14:35 Gross violations of anti-extremist legislation, according to the Ministry of Justice, said the fact that the CA for over 25 years, it imported materials, which were later found to be extremist. 14:38 The Ministry of Justice considers the cynicism of the fact that the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses word "extremist" (reference to the literature of Jehovah's Witnesses) is taken in quotation marks - in spite of the fact that the courts' decisions on the recognition of extremist literature came into force. 14:40 To summarize, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, as before, asks the CA to eliminate all the LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses, to confiscate their property and all that - without waiting for the court decision comes into force. 14:42 The debate begins the representative of the defendant administrative Omelchenko. 14:45 Omelchenko analyzes the illegal nature of generalization made by the Ministry of Justice, the fact that different Jehovah's Witnesses are supposedly unified organization "with the structural units." 14:50 Omelchenko leads rules of law on countering extremism. The law does not provide for such extremist actions as "an act in the form of inaction", "act committed inadvertently, negligently." Russia's Supreme Court has repeatedly pointed out that extremism can only be active actions aimed at violent change of the constitutional order. 15:02 The representative plaintiff, according to Omelchenko, gave the debate some his own interpretation of what extremism. However, the defendant reiterates that the legal interpretation of the Supreme Court and give the Constitutional Court. And the courts have ruled that extremism can be regarded as "inciting hatred and propaganda of social, racial, national, religious superiority, the presence of which must be determined by taking into account all relevant circumstances of each case , namely the form and content of activities, or information, their addressees and target orientation , the socio-political context, there is a real threat , caused by including calls to unlawful attacks on constitutionally protected values, justification sludge and justification of their commission. "
"Restricting by anti-extremist legislation freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of speech and the right to impart information should not take place in respect of any activities or information on the sole ground that they do not fit the generally accepted ideas are not consistent with established traditional views and opinions , conflict with the moral and ethical or religious preferences. Other would mean a departure from the constitutional requirements of necessity, proportionality and fairness restrictions on rights and freedoms of man and citizen. "

13:15 The courtroom of the Supreme Court gradually filled with students. There could hardly contain the excitement. Hand intently preparing for the debate. 13:50 Most of the seats in the hall already occupied. 14:09 Begin hearing. Omelchenko said the short application for admission of the statement of the European Union on the issue of the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. In it, the European Union says that "the claim of 15 March, submitted by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation to the Supreme Court, is the latest undertaken harsh measure against Jehovah's Witnesses and the further strengthening of the violation of their rights and the prosecution of which they are exposed in Russia, contrary to international standards on freedom of religion or belief. " Court clarifies how this statement can affect the outcome of today's hearing. Omelchenko said that this is proof of a violation of Art. 18 of the European Convention. While the European Union is not a Council of Europe body, it is made at a meeting of the Council of Europe. Court denies admission of the document. 14:15 The Court proceeds to debate. Presentation by representative of the Ministry of Justice. 14:16 The Ministry of Justice points out that Russia adheres to the principle of the rule of law. For Freedom of Conscience Act provides a framework. The Ministry of Justice points out that the very name of the CA - "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" - indicates that a centralized organization has control over MRW. The Ministry of Justice drew attention to the leading role of the CA in conjunction with the MPO. CA agree on issues related to the appointment of chairmen of MPO, etc. Witnesses Organization represent an entire organism. They are characterized by organizational unity. Links to canonical ties Ministry of Justice considers inconclusive. 14:25 According to the representative of the Ministry of Justice, the fact that the defendant continues to assert planted it indicates that the CA does not repent of extremist activity. 14:28 The representative of the Ministry of Justice: Although many religions have expressed a particular attitude to the secular authorities, the texts of Jehovah's Witnesses contain unacceptably insulting ways of expressing the truth of their beliefs. Extremist Bible quotes are not recognized, and the interpretation of what is written in the Bible.

füh·rer ˈfyo͞orər/ noun   a ruthless, tyrannical leader. KING OF THE NORTH WILL "LEAD" GOG'S ATTACK FORCE IN THE FUTURE ? WT 15 5/15 QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Zyuganov said the emergence in Russia of a new "the Fuhrer"
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Gennady Zyuganov

Photo: Dmitry Dukhanin / "Kommersant"
Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov called on the government "to strengthen cadre" and change course, otherwise a "political crisis is inevitable." The head of the Communists of the existing conditions in Russia saw the emergence of the "new" the Fuhrer "
Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said about the inevitability of the political crisis and the emergence in Russia of the "new" the Fuhrer ". He said this during his speech at the State Duma meeting with Prime Minister Dmitriem Medvedevym. 

"If we do not change course and do not strengthen the staff of the government, the political crisis will be inevitable," - said Zyuganov. 

He stressed that the need to change the personnel of the government and at the meeting to prepare for the century of the October Revolution. "While your government is working very feeble", - he said, noting that in Russian society "split amplified: one percent captured 90% of the property, barely make 40 million citizens to make ends meet."

"If you look at the public mood, some live on the Internet, the second live TV, but the reality is aimed at destabilizing the situation. And a new "Führer" - said Zyuganov. "I have the right to talk about it, I saw the tragedy of the Soviet Union, saw Yeltsin's behavior," - he added. 

During his speech to the State Duma and Prime Minister Zyuganov also criticized Russian macroeconomics, saying that the government no people able to deal with finances effectively. 

"There can be no sustainable security, if it continues the economy will sink if our main resources and finances will float away across the border," - said Zyuganov, noting that Russia needs a qualitatively different banking system able to develop the economy and to support the population, and not " unscrew his pockets. " 

"We are ready for constructive work, but Medvedev has no members of the government that can deal effectively with finance, the economy and social sphere of lead", - said the head of the Communist Party, noting that the Communist Party has its program of economic development in the future ready with this program, go to gubernatorial and presidential elections. 

In response to criticism of the Prime Minister Zyuganov said that "not so simple", but the "macroeconomics in Russia is in order." 

With reference to the head of the government he was made deputy chairman of the Communist faction Mykola Kolomeytsev that in your question the prime minister still  mentioned investigation Fund to Fight Corruption (FBK) Alekseya Navalnogo, which refers to the undeclared real estate Medvedev. Around this investigation ahead of a meeting in the State Duma on April 18, the Communists broke out inner-party dispute, when the leadership of the party banned deputy Valery Rashkin Medvedev asking a question about the investigation FBK. The reasons for banning the party leadership did not explain, however, RBC sources present at the meeting with Medvedev "United Russia" on April 11 stated that they have received the installation of "hard questions not to ask." 

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the tradition annually meets with State Duma deputies with the government report. This year the meeting was held on 19 April. The head of government spoke about the current performance in the political, economic and social spheres in Russia and answered the questions of the parliamentarians. This year, the number of questions to the Prime Minister from each fraction was increased from three to five. Medvedev meeting with deputies lasted 4 hr.

Подробнее на РБК:
http://www.rbc.ru/politics/19/04/2017/58f7836a9a7947f744bce3b1?utm_source=smi2&utm_medium=smi2&utm_campaign=smi2

ACTUALLY IF YOU READ CAREFULLY EZEKIEL AND DANIEL AND COMPARE THE "EXACT WORDING" OF THE WATCHTOWER ARTICLE AND THE BROADACAST TALK ON THE SUBJECT IT APPEARS A MORE PRECISE DEFINITION WOULD BE THIS: 
GOG aka KING OF THE NORTH = LEADER OF THE COALITION
LAND OF MAGOG = COALITION OF NATIONS that follow gog's lead
THUS GOG OF MAGOG IS A COALITION OF NATIONS WITH A PARTICULAR NATION ACTING AS ITS LEADER THE KING OF THE NORTH {although we cannot be dogmatic on that quite yet}. AS THE PROPHECY UNDERGOES FULFILLMENT A MORE PRECISE AND ACCURATE DETERMINATION CAN BE REVEALED THROUGH JEHOVAH'S ORGANIZATION.
IT IS OF CURRENT INTEREST THAT THE LEADER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN RUSSIA HAS STATED THAT THE POLITICAL SITUATION IS RIPE IN RUSSIA [BECAUSE OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION AS NOTED WITH THE RECENT PROTESTS AND NOW BANNING OF A RELIGION] FOR THE EMERGENCE OF A "FURER" THAT IS A HORRIBLE DICTATORIAL TYRANT [LIKE HITLER WAS] THAT COULD BE THE FUTURE LEADER OF RUSSIA.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHT HOWEVER IS IN ORDER FOR A CRY OF "PEACE AND SECURITY" THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME "OUTSTANDING" DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE PEOPLE WANT IT. SUCH AS A TERRORIST OR A NATION-STATE USING SOME WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION [PERHAPS EVEN NUCLEAR] ON CIVILIANS THAT WOULD OUTRAGE THE ENTIRE WORLD COMMUNITY TO GO TO AND STRENGTHEN THE UNITED NATIONS TO ACT ON THE THREAT.  SINCE THAT THREAT IS "BABYLON THE GREAT" THEN IT WOULD HAVE A RELIGIOUS FACTOR.  UNLESS THE U.N. IS STRENGTHEN FIRST AND THEN ACTS TO ELIMINATE ANOTHER THREAT = BABYLON THE GREAT BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS "EXTREMISM".
INTERESTINGLY AS A HISTORIAN I HAVE NOTED THAT IN THE FIRST CENTURY JOSEPHUS MADE NOTE THAT THE ATTACK ON JERUSALEM WAS STARTED BECAUSE OF THE RELIGIOUS "ZEALOTS" WHO FLED THERE THINKING IT WAS A PLACE OF SANCTUARY TO THEM. THE ROMANS NEVER ACTUALLY WANTED TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE THEY WERE AFTER THE RELIGIOUS "EXTREMIST" [AKA TERRORIST] WHO HAD USED THE TEMPLE [RELIGION] AS A PROTECTION. TERRORIST TODAY SUCH AS "ISIS" AND OTHERS ARE ALSO USING "RELIGION" AS A BASES FOR THERE ACTIONS USING IT AS A  PROTECTIVE ELEMENT. BUT THAT PROTECTION IS MISPLACED AS THE WORLD  WILL SOON DISCOVER. REV. 18

ANYTHING IS STILL POSSIBLE SINCE WE ARE NOT AT THAT POINT YET. WHEN GOG MAKES HIS ATTACK IT IS ACTUALLY AT THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION. AND ALOT OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN IN THE MEAN TIME SINCE THE BEGINNING HAS NOT EVEN STARTED YET.
BUT IT IS OF INTEREST THAT A "CHARACTER" IS CURRENTLY ACTING LIKE THE "KING OF THE NORTH" WOULD ACT ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.. OF COURSE JEHOVAH WILL REVEAL IT IN DUE TIME AND THAT REVELATION WILL CERTAINLY NOT BE BY ME. LOL

GOG OF MAGOG = COALITION OF NATIONS
KING OF THE NORTH = LEADER OF THE COALITION
 

Will this coalition be led by the figurative “king of the north”? We cannot say with any certainty. But this thought does seem to be in harmony with what Jehovah says about Gog: “You will come from your place, from the remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly, a vast army.”—Ezek. 38:6, 15.
Similarly, the prophet Daniel, who was a contemporary of Ezekiel, says of the king of the north: “Reports out of the east and out of the north will disturb him, and he will go out in a great rage to annihilate and to devote many to destruction. And he will plant his royal tents between the grand sea and the holy mountain of Decoration; and he will come all the way to his end, and there will be no helper for him.” (Dan. 11:44, 45) This clearly parallels what the book of Ezekiel says about Gog’s activities.—Ezek. 38:8-12, 16.
    As keen students of God’s Word, we wait with eager anticipation to see who in the near future will assume the role of “the king of the north.” But no matter who may take the lead in this coalition of nations, we are certain of two things: (1) Gog of Magog and his armies will be defeated and destroyed; and (2) our reigning King, Jesus Christ, will save God’s people and usher them into a new world of peace and true security.—Rev. 7:14-17      WT 15 5/15
 

Jehovah's Witnesses anticipate opposition to Supreme Court's ruling
ATTORNEYS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN RUSSIA DESCRIBE THEIR PLANS BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION ABOUT THEIR LIQUIDATION
Portal-Credo.Ru, 20 April 2017
 
"Truth is on our side. We will appeal." This was the first comment of the deputy to the chairman of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, Sergei Cherepanov, after the announcement in the evening of 20 April of the decision of the Supreme Court of the RF for the liquidation of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) organizations and the ruling of them as "extremist" and confiscating their property, a Portal-Credo.Ru correspondent reports.
 
A more detailed commentary for our portal was given by Ivan Belinko, a representative of the press service of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. He said: "In the course of the judicial proceedings, no stone was left on stone in all of the arguments of the justice ministry, and therefore I was surprised when the court announced the decision."
 
Ivan Belenko thinks that it is now, in the interim between the decisions of courts of the first and second instances, that "many people throughout Russia as well as international agencies will begin to express themselves. The fact alone of the filing of the suit in court evoked such a response that even the Council of Ministers of Europe spoke concerning this. I think that in the course of this month, until the college quashes this decision, the public will hear frequently about Jehovah's Witnesses." (tr. by PDS, posted 20 April 2017)
 I think that in the course of this month, until the college quashes this decision, the public will hear frequently about Jehovah's Witnesses
BETTER START BUYING MORE STAMPS? A.D.V.
44  “But REPORTS  out of the east* and out of the north will disturb him, and he will go out in a great rage to annihilate and to devote many to destruction. 45  And he will plant his royal*tents between the grand sea and the holy mountain of Decoration;*+ and he will come all the way to his end, and there will be no helper for him."

RUSSIA Jehovah's Witnesses Had Foes Before Putin
2 APRIL 21, 2017 11:52 AM EDT By Leonid Bershidsky When the Russian Supreme Court banned Jehovah's Witnesses and ordered the confiscation of the denomination's property on Thursday, it wasn't the first time. The faithful were outlaws in the Soviet Union, too, until that country's final year. The stubborn group will fight on -- but the court has delivered another chilling reminder that President Vladimir Putin's Russia is even less free than the USSR was.
Jehovah's Witnesses are a U.S.-based global religious organization, and they often are targeted by authoritarian and belligerent governments because members don't believe in government authority. They don't vote, serve in the military, salute flags or hail leaders. When the Nazis came to power in Germany, the Witnesses wouldn't use the Nazi salute because, according to their beliefs, it amounted to idolatry. Hitler responded by sending more than 10,000 "Bible Students," as they called themselves then, to prisons and concentration camps, where their pacifism particularly inspired torturers.
In the Soviet Union directly after World War II, Witnesses were mostly concentrated in western Ukraine and Transcarpathia, and they had the bad luck to trade Nazi persecution for the equally harsh Stalinist kind. In two secret operations in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Witnesses were removed to Siberian labor camps. There were only about 10,000 of them then. But adherents of the denomination didn't stop practicing and preaching in exile and in the camps, and when, after Stalin's death, the state stopped systematically imprisoning them and switched to a harassment tactic, the flock started growing.
By January 1991, when President Mikhail Gorbachev's government officially permitted the organization, there were about 45,000 followers in the Soviet Union. They formed one of the most stubborn and resourceful resistance groups that ever existed in the Communist country. Emily Baran wrote in a 2014 book about Soviet Jehovah's Witnesses:
The 1990s were a time of unprecedented freedom for the Witnesses in Russia. They converted about 100,000 new members, acquired influence and, in some cities, expensive real estate. But in the early 2000s, after Putin came to power, harassment began anew, with courts regularly banning the Witnesses' regional communities and literature. That became easier with the passage of "anti-extremist laws" that ban the preaching of one religion's advantage over others. Witness literature readily fit the description: They don't just consider themselves the one true faith, but also proudly preach it.  
The Witnesses fought the verdicts, sometimes reaching the European Court for Human Rights and winning there. But during Putin's latest presidential term, Russian courts have been encouraged to disregard the ECHR's decisions. Even though the European court is likely to overturn Thursday's Supreme Court ruling once the Witnesses' attempts to appeal reach Strasbourg, the Russian government is likely to stay firm on the ban, initiated by the justice ministry. The next step may be the prosecution of individual Witnesses for continuing to worship and proselytize. 
Jehovah's witnesses are in many ways extreme, even though their non-violent creed is hardly "extremist." That makes them a test case for religious freedom: The less liberal and tolerant a country is, the harsher it treats this particular denomination. 
Western democracies have struggled to accept Jehovah's Witnesses. At different times, they have faced bans in France, Spain and Canada because of their attitudes to military service and flags. But in recent years, following some protracted legal battles, European countries have come to recognize their right to their beliefs. The European Union has denounced the Russian ban.
At the other end of the spectrum, African dictatorial regimes have killed, tortured and driven out Witnesses. A number of Muslim nations have banned them, and so has China. Russia is now positioning itself at the restrictive end of the spectrum, and that augurs ill for other Protestant denominations and smaller religious groups. Like Western non-governmental organizations and members of the news media, which have been driven from Russia in the last four years, these groups represent a fifth column. Perhaps they don't defy the state as openly as Jehovah's Witnesses, but to Putin and his circle they still somehow appear disloyal because of their reluctance to join the big religions that maintain a relationship with the state and are controllable.
Russia has no more patience with openness and tolerance. Putin's regime doesn't care whether it passes any tests on that score. In a way, it's as defiant as the Witnesses, and so far, it's just as resilient. But the Jehovah's Witnesses have been resilient for longer.
 
My photo not the article. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hitler-Catholic-Alliance-Babylon-the-Great-Watchtower-Jehovahs-Witnesses-IBSA-/272637842902?hash=item3f7a7b55d6:g:rzoAAOxyHltSTvLv
seems a bit too cozy for me

Russian lawmaker suggests Jehovah's Witnesses' case may affect other religions
CHAIRMAN OF STATE DUMA COMMITTEE LINKS SUPREME COURT DECISION TO LIQUIDATE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS'ES WITH "PROTECTION OF BELIEVERS' RIGHTS"
Portal-Credo.Ru, 21 April 2017
 
The Russian State Duma will "examine" the decision of the Russian Supreme Court in the case of the Jehovah's Witnesses. The legal precedent will allow the development of new laws for the protection of believers' rights, the chairman of the State Duma Committee for Development of Civil Society and Affairs of Public and Religious Associations, Sergei Gavrilov, told Izvestia on 20 April.
 
"This is a kind of legal precedent, although we do not have case law, but it is important for us to examine details of the case so that in our time we can adopt a decision about the protection of believers' rights. We adopted a number of amendments in the anti-extremism legislation. If you recall, the Russian parliament adopted an amendment linked to the restriction of illegal evangelism. Therefore it is important for us the examine this case, because it is possible that in the near future we will have to use it in our legislation," Gavrilov said.
 
In the deputy's opinion, there are in Russia now many religious organizations whose activity is called into question. "All organizations that exist in our country, with the exception of traditional confessions, should be investigated in order to protect the interests of traditional morality, traditional Russian values, establishment of the family, care for neighbors, and love for the fatherland. In my view, very many organizations today do not comply with this criterion," Gavrilov declared.
 
On 20 April, the Russian Supreme Court ruled the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in the RF to be an extremist organization and banned the its activity itself and that of its "structural subdivisions" on the territory of the country. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 April 2017)

Jehovah's Witnesses administration recalls soviet times
LEADERS OF RUSSIAN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES VIEW SUPREME COURT DECISION AS OPEN PERSECUTION FOR FAITH
Inasmuch as incidents of "extremist activity were not presented to the court
Portal-Credo.Ru, 21 April 2017
 
"We are disappointed with the decision of the court and we will appeal it without fail, here, in the appellate college of the Supreme Court. If this does not help, there remains only the European court," Yaroslav Sivulsky, a member of the Governing Body of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, shared the plans of the Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) in connection with the decision made on 20 April by the Russian Supreme Court for liquidation of their religious organizations in Russia, a Portal-Credo.Ru correspondent reports.
 
Everybody in attendance in the courtroom was able to be convinced that the position of the plaintiff—the Russian Ministry of Justice—was "absolutely unfounded," Yaroslav Sivulsky thinks. The participants in the trial were left with the impression that the justice ministry did not trouble itself to prepare for the trial, since it was earlier certain of its outcome.
 
The fact that in the court not a single incident of extremist activity by JW was presented is viewed in the Governing Body as proof that the trial in the Russian Supreme Court is "simply persecution for faith, persecution for religion."
 
"This is, in fact, a return to the repressions that existed in soviet times. Now our country is being plunged into new religious repressions," Yaroslav Sivulsky concluded. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 April 2017)

European sympathy for Russian Jehovah's Witnesses
EU SUPPORTS JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BANNED IN RUSSIA
Lenta.ru, 21 April 2017
 
Brussels came out in support of the religious movement of Jehovah's Witnesses, whose activity was banned on the territory of Russia by decision of the Supreme Court. This is said in a statement published on the website of the European Service of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for the foreign policy of the European Union (EU).
 
"Jehovah's Witnesses, like all other religious organizations, should have the possibility of peacefully enjoying the freedom of assembly, as it is guaranteed by the Russian constitution as well as by international obligations of the Russian federation and world standards of human rights," the European Service of Foreign Affairs notes.
 
On 20 April, the Supreme Court ruled the Jehovah's Witnesses to be an extremist organization and prohibited the activity of all 395 divisions operating on the territory of the country. A representative of the Jehovah's Witnesses declared their readiness to turn to the appellate instance, and if necessary to go to the European Court for Human Rights. The decision will take effect after 30 days.
 
On 17 March, the Ministry of Justice turned to the Supreme Court with a demand to prohibit Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia because of violations by them of anti-extremism legislation. Several days later the activity of the Administrative Center of the movement in Russia was suspended. The head organization was entered into the list of extremist organizations of the Ministry of Justice.
 
In response to this, the Jehovah's Witnesses asked the Supreme Court to recognize them as the victim of political repressions, although after hearing the arguments of the parties the court refused to accept the counter suit.
 
Jehovah's Witnesses is an international religious organization with headquarters in New York. In 2015, more than eight million of its followers were counted in the world, and  about 175 thousand of its adherents reside in Russia. Adherents of the movement are accused of neglect for life because of refusal of medical operations and blood transfusion. They also are accused of reluctance to serve in the army. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 April 2017)
 
 
 
GERMAN AUTHORITIES UPSET BY BAN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES IN RUSSIA
RIA Novosti,  21 April 2017
 
The government of Germany expresses its concern about the decision of the Russian Supreme Court which prohibited the activity of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, an official representative of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martin Shefer, stated at a briefing in Berlin on 21 April.
 
"The government of Germany expresses concern that yesterday Russian justice issued a sentence banning Jehovah's Witnesses," Shefer said.
 
He added that he urges Russia "to adhere to international obligations" for protecting "religious liberty."
 
On Thursday the Russian Supreme Court ruled the activity of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia to be extremist and it banned its work. It also ordered the confiscation of the property of the organization. The Ministry of Justice earlier suspended the work of the center until the concluding resolution of the dispute in court. The Administrative Center is preparing an appeal. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 April 2017)
 
 
 
BRITAIN UPSET BY DECISION OF RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT ON JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
RIA Novosti, 21 April 2017
 
Great Britain is concerned by the decision of the Russian Supreme Court to find the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses to be extremist.
 
On 20 April the Russian Supreme Court ruled the activity of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia to be extremist and it prohibited its work. Representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses declared their intention to appeal this decision in the European Court for Human Rights. The Germany foreign ministry and the foreign policy service of the European Union came out in defense of the organization.
 
"I am disturbed by the decision of the Russian Supreme Court to find Jehovah's Witnesses to be 'extremist.' This ruling, in essence, criminalizes the peaceful religious profession of 175 thousand Russian citizens and it contradicts the right to religious liberty guaranteed by the Russian constitution," a statement by the minister for human rights, Joyce Anelay, says.
 
"Great Britain urges the Russian government to observe its international obligations in honoring this basic right," she emphasized.

ANYONE HAVE A TRANSCRIPT OF WHAT THE JUDGE ACTUALLY SAID?

I do not know if you mean something like this .... thank you !
(I do not speak russian)

 

IF YOU SEARCH UNDER "GOOGLE NEWS" WORLD SECTION HAS SOME 20 NEWS REPORTS THEN CLICK ON "SEE REALTIME COVERAGE" AND IT HAS 92 NEWS SOURCES ON THE BANNING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. INCLUDED IN ALL OF THIS IS ALSO VIDEO OF THE JUDGE PRONOUNCING SENTENCE AS WELL AS VIDEO OF THE WITNESSES LEAVING THE COURT AND AN INTERVIEW AFTER.

Very nice , we just finished watching the Broadcast. The parts about how Jehovah is maneuvering events is interesting and shows that he is in control of His people and allowed them to both have the Memorial and Special Talk in peace before the verdict. Also a great Witness has been and will be taking place from here until the appeal. It was stated that many may become interested in the Truth after hearing about this "unjust" verdict and persecution of peaceful people. Jesus said true worshipers would be haled before courts "as a witness". It is true other religions are being restricted but only ONE has gone to the Supreme Court and was given a great Witness to the world and yet it appears this is only the beginning. . 

https://tv.jw.org/#en/video/VODOurOrganization/pub-jwb_201704_12_VIDEO

Kazan Jehovah's Witnesses sure to carry on
WE WILL GO UNDERGROUND—WE WILL NOT ABANDON OUR FAITH
Thousands of members of the Kazan congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses are outlawed.
Experts are sure that they will not simply surrender.
 by Damara Khairulina, Tatyana Mamaeva
Real Time, 21 April 2017
 
The Russian Supreme Court ruled the organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" to be extremist and it banned its activity. Thereby the activity of Jehovah's Witnesses will be prohibited and all property will be confiscated for state use. Experts questioned by Real Time suppose that the organization will without fail appeal the court's decision, and the ban on the activity will evoke a "hysterical" reaction. Representatives themselves of the regional committee of Witnesses declare that the adherents of the organization will be forced to go underground.
 
Extremist organization
 
Yesterday the Russian Supreme Court found the Jehovah's Witnesses to be an extremist organization, liquidated it, and prohibited its activity on the territory of the country. Thereby the plaintiff's demand of the Russian Ministry of Justice was granted. The court ordered the immediate cessation of the activity of all 395 divisions of the Jehovah's Witnesses on the territory of the country and the conversion of the organization's property into state income.
 
Yet earlier, on 3 March, the Russian Ministry of Justice suspended the activity of the religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" because of its conducting extremist activity. On 6 April the ministry demanded through the court the confiscation of the organization's property.
 
The Ministry of Justice maintains that the organization distributes extremist literature. The ministry also found extremism in the activity of the local organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Birobidzhan.
 
According to 2015 data, there were 408 registered local religious organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses. In Tatarstan alone there are five. The earliest of the functioning registered groups was in the city of Zainsk (1996) and a year later a division appeared in Nizhnekamsk. In January 2001 a local religious organization was registered in Kazan and in 2002, in Nabereshny Chelny and Almetevsk.
 
They hang a label on us
 
Representatives of the Kazan division of Witnesses say that their organization is peace-loving and has no indicators of extremism. Moreover, the "Jehovah's Witnesses are people who submit to authority."
 
"Our fellow believers have never been observed in demonstrations of protest against the existing authorities or in the use of arms and violence. It is out of the ordinary and it has never happened," says Artem Emelianov, the chairman of the committee of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses of Kazan.
 
"The most serious accusation is the existence of literature that has been ruled extremist. In Taganrog there was a trial and our fellow believes were given a suspended sentence for that. In Tatarstan we have not faced anything similar, which makes us happy," Vitaly Solianik, a representative of the organization in Kazan, added.
 
Speaking of whether the financing of the organization could go to financing extremist groups, Solianik noted that the Witnesses "continually give account before the Ministry of Justice" and that is theoretically impossible. And actually, in the data base Spark-Interfax scheduled inspections of the Ministry of Justice are recorded.
 
"We provide contracted expenses for every kopek. The Ministry of Justice verifies us and no violations have ever been found where we use means other than as intended. There have been no claims in this regard against us."
 
Representatives of the organization say that now the number of adherents of the Witnesses in Kazan may constitute about 1,000 persons.
 
"We are restricted. We cannot conduct congresses or rent facilities. If we make an agreement, the action is cut off," Emelianov says. "They hang on us the label of extremists. Supposedly our literature enflames religious hostility, which does not correspond to reality."
 
At the same time the Kazan Jehovists maintain that all literature that was previously ruled to be extremist is immediately removed after the bans.
 
Totalitarian, destructive sect
 
However the official position of the Russian Orthodox Church is unambiguous.
 
"Naturally, the Jehovah's Witnesses are a totalitarian, destructive sect, and it is as such a sect that the RPTs deals with them," the monastic priest Viacheslav told Real Time; he is the chairman of the Kazan diocese Department for Combating Drug Addiction and Alcoholism. "How are the Jehovah's Witnesses dangerous? They zombify people. They turn them against traditional confessions. They have a whole string of stupid prohibitions that are harmful for believers. For example, the prohibition on blood transfusion. In essence, they are not Christians, they interpret the Bible very freely, and they do not recognize Christ. I think that they are a far from poor organization; their center is located in America and so you can conclude who finances them."
 
The hieromonk also noted that the organization is not recognized "even by protestants."
 
"In various countries they are treated differently; where there is so-called 'liberty' they prosper. For example, in Ukraine there is a large sect. And what did this lead to? To Jehovah's Witnesses."
 
Representatives of Islam treat the Witnesses no less critically
 
"From the point of view of our Muslims, they do a great deal to, say, incite inter-ethnic strife. In particular, for a long time representatives of this group, sect, congregation went about apartments and offered also in Kazan colorful books substituting terminology. People took these books but then they came to the mosque with questions: 'What is this literature in which everything is turned upside down,'" Farid Salman, the director of the Center for the Study of the Holy Quran and the Pure Sunna.
 
It is rather difficult to become a Jehovah's Witness
 
Representatives of the Kazan division of the organization talk about the attitude toward them in society, that is often explained by prevailing incorrect stereotypes. For example, whether to accept the procedure of blood transfusion, each adherent has the right to decide for himself, Emelianov says.
 
"As regards blood transfusion, in many countries the method of blood transfusion is considered dangerous. There is the danger of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and various causes of allergic reactions. Many civilized countries reject this method. We also wish for ourselves only good. Each of our fellow believers chooses what fits them. There is no prohibition. That is a myth."
 
Emelianov calls a stereotype the opinion established in society that Witnesses sign over their property to the organization, and that people are forced to join the Witnesses by coercion.
 
"Actually, it is rather difficult to become a Witness. One must give up smoking if they smoked, reject the use of drugs, reject a profligate lifestyle, register one's marriage, and make serious changes in life. Not everyone is ready for such changes. And in order to cease to be a member if a person ceases to conduct a proper form of life. Nobody will persecute him—that's a myth."
 
The Kazan subdivision has published accountability and according to its data it is not especially wealthy, although many Orthodox parishes could envy such financial indicators. According to data of Rosstat, according to the results of 2015, the capital and reserve of the Kazan local religious organization was 13.6 million rubles. Of these, 5.2 million were tangible assets. In the year, the organization received income and other valuables of 5.1 million rubles. That is, approximately 5,000 for each member of the organization. There are not data on official finances of the other four Tatarstan organizations.
 
Is forbidden fruit sweet?
 
On the question of what Kazan Jehovists will do in the future, they answer confidently: "We will go underground; you do not abandon the faith." And at the same time Jehovists plan to defend their organization in court.
 
Vadim Kozlov, the executive director of the Kazan inter-regional center of expert analysis also suggests that the organization will really not surrender its position so simply, and that there is more than one judicial proceeding ahead.
 
"I think this is not the last (trial—ed. note), not the end. Because this organization has a powerful legal service. I think that international instances also will be involved including diplomatic channels on the part of the USA, where the headquarters of this organization is based. I think for our jurisprudence this is a precedent. It is quite possible that by analogy such decisions will be rendered for other organizations also that have indicators of the presence of extremism."
 
Confirmation of these words came on the day after the Supreme Court's decision. The European Service of Foreign Policy, that is responsible for the foreign policy of the European Union, declared that members of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization in Russia should enjoy the right to freedom of assembly without hindrance.
 
At the same time, the ban on the activity of the organization will lead to an increase in the number of its adherents, Alexander Mikhailov, a general-major of the FSB reserve, is sure.
 
"This is a real totalitarian sect, representing a danger for the physical and moral health of people. It is very aggressive in attracting devotees to itself. I even predict a formal increase in the numbers of this sect; a ban always has an attractive character" Mikhailov speculates.
 
Mikhailov recalls that liquidation of an organization has often been tried in Russia.
 
"Any prohibition, and especially in regard to totalitarian sects, creates conditions for the sect to go underground. What form will this take? I find it hard to say. Our legislation forbids, speaking conditionally, conducting religious rituals outside of houses of worship. We have already dealt with this in soviet times, when we pursued these sects with fearsome force about the expanse of the universe. But they still assembled in apartments.
 
The interlocutor is sure that the ban will inevitably evoke a counter reaction: "It will be hysterical and notable. The ban of an organization is not effective. People will not change their views." (tr. by PDS, posted 21 April 2017)

Russian original posted on Portal-Credo.Ru, 21 April 2017