ECHR exonerates Moscow Community of Jehovah’s Witnesses

The European Court of Human Rights rejected on Thursday a 2004 ban by a Moscow court on the city’s branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, RIA-Novosti reported.

The Strasbourg-based court, which also ordered Russian authorities to pay a fine of 70,000 euros ($84,700), said the ban was based on insufficient evidence. Both parties have three months to appeal the decision.

The Moscow court banned Jehovah’s Witnesses on charges that included human rights violations, inducement to suicide and proselytizing minors.