Today, the UK Delegation to the OSCE Permament Council released a statement condemning Russia for persecuting Jehovah's Witnesses and calling for the release of those imprisoned.

Link [1]to news release and statement by Nicola Murray, Deputy Head of UK Delegation. Below are a few key excerpts.

The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned about the situation of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Russian Federation.

It is with deep regret that we learned that on 13 July, 110 homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were simultaneously searched by Russian authorities in the cities of Voronezh and Stary Oskol.

We repeat our concern that the increasing number of searches, as well as use of simultaneous large-scale home raids, creates the impression of an organised campaign of persecution against Jehovah's Witnesses.

For three years now, the delegation of the Russian Federation has assured the Permanent Council that individual Jehovah's Witnesses are able to practice their religion at home, as no permission is required to pray in Russia. However, we have witnessed time and again that any manifestation of their faith by Jehovah's Witnesses can result in the search of their homes, lengthy detention, criminal prosecution and imprisonment.

We again call on the Russian Federation to end the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses, and to uphold the commitments on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief for all individuals across the Russian Federation.

Jarrod Lopes, spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses, states: "The UK Delegation has consistently condemned Russia for arresting, imprisoning, and torturing Jehovah's Witnesses for their peaceful Christian worship. The UK's statement today is the latest by a growing number of international actors who have likewise denounced Russia. We hope Russian authorities will soon halt the persecution and provide the freedom of religion that is enshrined in its constitution."