Woman from Protestant faith taken into custody in Ukraine's occupied region, accused of remarks during private prayer gathering
In the contested region of Ukraine, under Russian control, new authorities have announced a significant shift in policy towards religious sects. In February 2024, they expressed their aim to halt the operations of these religious communities in the Russia-Ukraine war regions.
This decision has already led to a series of actions, with at least three churches—Grace Protestant Church, Melitopol Christian Church, and Word of Life Protestant Church—being banned, and all their properties seized in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The reasons behind these actions are not explicitly stated, but the religious sects are accused of participating in organising mass disorder and anti-Russian activity. Moreover, these communities are alleged to have links with foreign 'special services.'
One of the most high-profile cases involved a woman in her early fifties, who was arrested in July 2023 for participating in a prayer meeting in Melitopol, a city in south-east Ukraine. She has been under arrest since early 2024 and is now facing a legal case before the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Court in occupied Ukraine. The woman is charged under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code for giving 'knowingly false information' about the Russian armed forces. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in jail.
The involvement of the Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in the case suggests a broader crackdown on religious freedom in the region. The specific nature of the mass disorder and the activities these religious sects are accused of are not detailed, but the actions against them include halting their work.
The identity of the woman and the specific religious sects targeted are not widely known, but the context suggests that these actions are part of a broader trend of repression in the region. The location of the Russian-controlled area is not specified, but it is understood to be within Ukraine.
This development raises concerns about the state of religious freedom and democratic values in the region, as these actions could potentially escalate tensions and further restrict the rights of women to practice their faith.
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