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Four Jehovah's Witnesses Convicted of Extremism in Russia

2/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Four Jehovah's Witnesses were convicted of extremist activity in Russia last week based on covert video recordings by infiltrators during their prayer sessions.
The total imprisoned since 2017 is about 220, when the group was banned as extremist.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled the ban unlawful in 2022.
Oleg Postnikov received six years in Birobidzhan, and Tolmazov, Kostyuk, and Barbazyuk received six years each in Tver.

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Story summary

Four Jehovah's Witnesses were convicted of extremist activity in Russia last week based on covert video recordings by infiltrators during their prayer sessions.
The total imprisoned since 2017 is about 220, when the group was banned as extremist.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled the ban unlawful in 2022.
Oleg Postnikov received six years in Birobidzhan, and Tolmazov, Kostyuk, and Barbazyuk received six years each in Tver.