Russia's Tomsk court orders arrests in religious extremist case

A court in Tomsk has ordered the detention of 10 individuals linked to an extremist organization that recruited citizens into a religious movement, press service of the Tomsk Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee confirmed.

The group was reportedly led by a 50-year-old defendant from July 2023 to March 2025. He was assisted by nine others, and the team organized meetings, video conferences, and mass gatherings to promote religious teachings, the committee said.

Law enforcement sources identified the organization as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Authorities have opened criminal cases for organizing an extremist organization (Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code) and for participating in one (Part 2, Article 282.2).

The investigation has been completed, and the case materials have been forwarded to the court for trial.

By Vafa Guliyeva