Arkady Akopyan

Jehovah’s Witness on trial for ‘extremism’ in Kabardino-Balkaria

A Jehovah’s Witness from the Kabardino-Balkarian town of Maysky is on trial in Prokhladny District Court for ‘inciting religious hatred’ and ‘calling to extremist activity’. Yury Zalipayev faces up to five years in prison if convicted. On Monday, an employee of the Prosecutor’s Office of Kabardino-Balkaria testified in Zalipayev’s defence, saying that the town’s Jehovah’s Witnesses did not distribute ‘extremist materials’. Fifty-four-year-old Zalipayev has been on trial since 17 July. Acc