Russians Face Criminal Prosecution For Their Christian Faith

The trial in the criminal case against Aleksandr Kalistratov, who was charged with inciting religious enmity under Article 282(1) of the Russian Federation Criminal Code, will resume in the Gorno-Altaysk City Court on November 15, 2010.

Initially the Kalistratov case was held from October 20 to 22, 2010. When the 37 witnesses for the prosecution who knew Kalistratov were questioned, they stated that he is a law-abiding citizen whom they respect and who has never been known to advocate the incitement of religious enmity. They were astonished that his actions could be considered “extremist,” since they had been helped to change their lives for the good as a result of his actions and the literature of Jehovah’s Witnesses.