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Finance

Russian court confiscates 123 real estate assets belonging to Jehovah's Witnesses

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 31, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: July 31, 2026

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Russian Court Seizes 123 Real Estate Assets from Jehovah's Witnesses

Russian Court Confiscates Jehovah's Witnesses' Properties

Details of the Asset Seizure

MOSCOW, July 31 (Reuters) - A court in the Russian capital has confiscated 123 real estate assets which belonged to the Jehovah's Witnesses and transferred them to the Russian state, Moscow's court service said on Friday.

Breakdown of Confiscated Properties

It said the property assets had previously been registered as belonging to the Swedish branch of Jehovah's Witnesses and included 63 residential and commercial properties with a total area of over 11,000 square metres and 60 plots of land with a total area of 5.6 hectares situated across the country.

Background on Legal Actions Against Jehovah's Witnesses

A Russian court banned Jehovah's Witnesses as an "extremist organisation" in 2017, a move that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2022 was itself unlawful. Many Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia have since been jailed after being convicted of "extremist activity."

(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)

Key Takeaways

  • In 2017, Russia's Supreme Court banned Jehovah’s Witnesses as an extremist organisation, leading to seizures of property and dissolution of their legal entities.
  • The European Court of Human Rights ruled in February 2022 that the ban and associated actions violated fundamental rights, citing unlawful property seizures and repression.
  • Since the ban, Russia has conducted widespread raids, prosecutions, and imprisonments—including the recent confiscation of 123 properties—despite international condemnation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many properties were confiscated from Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia?
A Russian court confiscated 123 real estate assets belonging to the Jehovah's Witnesses.
What types of assets were seized by the Moscow court?
The assets included 63 residential and commercial properties and 60 plots of land.
Why were Jehovah's Witnesses' assets confiscated in Russia?
Their assets were confiscated following a 2017 court ban declaring Jehovah's Witnesses an 'extremist organisation.'
Who previously owned the seized properties?
The properties were registered as belonging to the Swedish branch of Jehovah's Witnesses.
What was the European Court of Human Rights' stance on the ban?
In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights ruled the ban on Jehovah's Witnesses was unlawful.

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