Admin l Thursday, September 12, 2019
WASHINGTON, U.S – The United State has imposed travel bans on two Russians accused of torturing Jehovah’s Witnesses who have upheld their religious conviction in custody.
The affected Russians are Surgut’s chief investigators Vladimir Yermolayev and Stepan Tkach, as well as their families.
They were alleged to have stripped, suffocated, douzed with water and deployed stun guns, i.e electric shocks on at least 7 members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses who were detained under spurious charges of extremism in February.
On a daily basis, Russian agents raid homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses, arresting, brutalising and harassing members. This constant state attack on the witnesses, who are known for their peaceful disposition has forced no less than 175, 000 members to flee Russia.
“The Department has credible information that Yermolayev and Tkach were involved in torture and/or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Surgut, Russia,” the Department of States said. The Russian authority has denied all allegations even in the face of compelling evidence.
The U.S. also called on Russia to release “over 200 individuals currently in custody for exercising their freedom of religion or belief.” Among them is Denis Christensen, a Danish citizen who has been convicted by Russian courts.
