Admin l Wednesday, May 02, 2018
NEW YORK, U.S– The Saint Petersburg City Court will tomorrow hear an appeal from Jehovah’s Witnesses against a ruling to confiscate their former national office in Russia. The national office has 14 building complex situated on some 25 acres (10 ha), worth $31.8 million (2 billion rubles). If the appeal is denied the Russian government will take over the properties.
The original ruling by the Sestroretskiy District Court in December 2017 ignored evidence that the Witnesses’ office is owned by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (WTPA), a nonprofit corporation based in the United States.
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia transferred the property to WTPA in 2000, and WTPA has since paid some $3 million (188 million rubles) in property taxes to the Russian Federation.
Although the Russian government recognized the legal transfer for over 17 years, the district court now asserts that the WTPA’s ownership contract is invalid. Consequently, the court declared the Witnesses’ Administrative Center (AC) in Russia as the actual owner. Since the AC was liquidated by the Supreme Court in 2017, if the Witnesses lose the upcoming appeal, the decision is enforceable and the State can seize the property immediately.
Hearings will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Saint Petersburg City Court, ul. Basseynaya, 6, St. Petersburg, Russia.
