{"id":2457,"date":"2020-04-03T16:22:22","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T13:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/d9lb3qyw8jhbr.cloudfront.net\/?p=2457"},"modified":"2020-04-03T16:22:23","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T13:22:23","slug":"belarus-is-going-to-extradite-jehovahs-witness-to-russia-where-he-is-at-risk-of-criminal-prosecution-of-religion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d9lb3qyw8jhbr.cloudfront.net\/en\/belarus-is-going-to-extradite-jehovahs-witness-to-russia-where-he-is-at-risk-of-criminal-prosecution-of-religion\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus is going to extradite Jehovah\u2019s Witness to Russia where he is at risk of criminal prosecution of religion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Russian member of the religious organisation Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses has already spent 40 days under arrest in Belarus. Belarusian law-enforcement agencies consider extradition to Russia, where the activities of the organisation are declared as extremist. There he is to face trial and confinement for a period up to 15 years.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Russian citizen Nikolay Makhalichev was detained on 21 February 2020 in Gorodok, in north-eastern Belarus. During his trip to Belarus, he was stopped for the identity check, and it turned out that he is on international Russia wanted list. Makhalichev declares that he did not even know that in January 2019 criminal case was raised on organising and financing the activities of an extremist organization against him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After the arrest, he was placed in Pre-Trial Detention Center Number 2 in Vitebsk and materials on his case were requested from Russian law-enforcement agencies, based on which the General Prosecutor office of Belarus should make a decision about his extradition. The case documents have been received this week by the General Prosecutor office, and they will begin consideration and make a decision about extradition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Human rights organisation Human Constanta <\/em>insists on non-extradition of Nikolay Makhalichev as he faces a real risk of unfounded criminal prosecution just for religion beleifs. The extradition of Nikolay Makhalichev violates both the International agreements and domestic law in the Republic of Belarus. Pursuant to article 17 of the law the Republic of Belarus of 4 January 2010 \u2116 105-3 \u201cAbout the legal status of the foreign citizens and stateless people<\/em>\u201d, for instance, foreign citizens may not be expelled from the territory of the Republic of Belarus to the foreign state where their life or freedom is under the threat owing to <\/strong>their race, religion, <\/strong>citizenship or political opinion\u2026>. There are sufficient grounds for believing that in case of extradition of Nikolay Mikhalichev to Russia he is to be convicted and detained exclusively for his religious belief which is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses were rated an extremist organisation in Russia in 2017. More than 100 members were convicted in different regions of Russia since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the moment Nikolay Makhalichev is waiting for the decision of the General Prosecutor office in Pre-Trial Detention Center Number 2 in Vitebsk, and he applied for protection (asylum status) in Belarus. In relation to the situation, we request full implementation of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and implementation of all procedures for ensuring against violations of the rights of Nikolay Makhalichev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n