UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet at a press conference at the UN headquarters (New York). Photo source: UN Photo/Laura Jarriel
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the sentencing of Dennis Christensen
United States of AmericaOn February 7, 2019, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement calling on Russia to drop all charges against Jehovah's Witnesses.
"Christensen's harsh sentence sets a dangerous precedent, criminalizing the right to freedom of religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia ... We urge the Government of Russia to revise the Law on Countering Extremist Activity in order to clarify the vague and open-ended definition of extremist activity and to ensure that the definition requires an element of violence and hostility. We also call on the authorities to drop charges against and release all those detained for exercising their rights to freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful assembly and association."
Previously, the problem was pointed out by various UN agencies, including the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which called on Russia to abolish the List of Extremist Materials.
