Forum 18 News: Russia, Turkmenistan

1 August 2007                                              

Russia: European Court victory for Evangelical pastor                                       

Pastor Petr Barankevich of the Christ's Grace Evangelical Church is the latest Russian citizen to win a freedom of thought, conscience and belief case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. Barankevich told Forum 18 News Service that he believes the financial compensation due from the Russian Government is "not as important" as upholding his rights. Ever since his church was denied permission to conduct worship in a park in the town of Chekhov (Moscow Region) in 2002, it has not held any public events. "We thought there was no point in trying until the European Court resolved the issue." Although an earlier ECHR judgment in favour of a group of Jehovah's Witnesses became final on 11 July, the Russian Government has not yet paid the compensation it should have done by that date. However, after another 2007 ECHR judgment became final, this time in favour of the Salvation Army, they were paid compensation. But the situation which led to that ECHR judgment has not been addressed. Aleksandr Kharkov, of the Salvation Army, told Forum 18 that they are very concerned to get the original Moscow court ruling overturned, because it suggests the church is a paramilitary formation.

26 July 2007                                                                                       

Turkmenistan: Further sentences for religious conscientious objection feared

On 3 August Jehovah's Witness Suleiman Udaev is due to go on criminal trial in the eastern town of Mary for refusing compulsory military service on grounds of religious conscience, Forum 18 News Service has learned. His trial will come two weeks after three young Jehovah's Witnesses were sentenced on the same charges in the capital Ashgabad. Two received suspended two year sentences. The third - Nuryagdy Gayyrov – had his eighteen-month prison sentence transferred to a one-year suspended sentence on 23 July after the prosecutor appealed against what he regarded as a harsh sentence. The three face tight restrictions. They cannot leave Ashgabad and must be back home each evening by 8 pm. One of those sentenced told Forum 18 he was beaten during pre-trial interrogation "for no reason". The Jehovah's Witnesses fear more trials will follow.

 Source:           www.forum18.org