The Supreme Court in Russia has begun consideration of the Russian government’s move to place a ban on Jehovah Witness.
The move by the Russian government comes after it described the religious organisation which boasts of 175,000 members in Russia and 395 branches across the country an ‘extremist organisation’.
The Supreme Court’s review board began consideration of the Russian Government’s move a month after the Justice Ministry filed a lawsuit with it against the national headquarters of the country’s Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Jehovah Witnesses organisation was however reported to have filed a counter suit against the Justice Ministry lawyers on Wednesday after the case’s hearing commenced.
The Jehovah Witnesses in the lawsuit filed described the action of the Russian Government as ‘unlawful’ and further asked that the court recognise its members as victims of political repression.
The case was adjourned after the court ruled that the request by the religious organisation was not part of its jurisdiction.
The hearing of the case between the Russian government and the Jehovah Witnesses will continue later today.