ARMENIA: Jehovah’s Witnesses legal

Canton Repository , OH
Oct 14 2004

Thursday, October 14, 2004 YEREVAN, Armenia — Authorities in Armenia
registered the Jehovah’s Witnesses on Wednesday, allowing the religious
group to operate in the Caucasus Mountain nation after years of debate
and denial.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses first appeared in Armenia in 1988. But
the group was unable to win registration after the nation became
independent in the 1991 Soviet collapse.

Legalizing the Jehovah’s Witnesses was one of the main conditions
set out by the Council of Europe when the continent’s leading human
rights organization granted Armenia membership two years ago.

Deputy Justice Minister Tigran Mukuchian told The Associated Press
a major obstacle to registration had been members’ refusal to serve
in the military.