JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES DENIED REGISTRATION IN KARABAKH
Lusine Musayelian

Armenialiberty.org
http://www.azatutyu n.am/content/article/1789989.html
July 31 2009

Authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh have refused to allow Jehovah’s
Witnesses and another non-traditional religious group to legally
operate in the self-proclaimed republic, citing their "methods of
psychological influence" on the population.

A new law adopted by the Karabakh parliament recently obligated all
religious denominations to re-register with a government department on
religious affairs and ethnic minorities within a six-month period. All
but two faiths active in Karabakh have already been granted such
registration.

Ashot Sargsian, head of the department, told RFE/RL on Friday
that activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the other group, called
Rebirth of Fire, were effectively banned on the basis of a "negative
expert conclusion." "It is mainly conditioned by the fact that those
religious organizations operate in Artsakh in violation of our laws,"
Sargsian said, citing their "proselytism" and "methods of psychological
influence."

Artur Ispirian, a Yerevan-based lawyer for Jehovah’s Witnesses,
dismissed the explanation, saying that the Karabakh law does not define
the term "proselytism." Levon Sardarian, a local Fire of Rebirth
leader, likewise denounced the government claims as "unfounded" and
"ludicrous." He said no Karabakh official has ever attended religious
services held by his sect.

Both Ispirian and Sardarian said the registration ban will be
challenged in court. They also made clear that their religious
organizations will not cease their activities in Karabakh in any case.

"Will certainly continue to operate," Sardarian told RFE/RL. "We are
ready for any persecution."

Sargsian warned, however, both cults against any engaging in any
"illegal activities." "I’m sure the state would take strict sanctions,"
he said. "First of all because, we have martial law in place."

Jehovah’s Witnesses has long been at odds with the authorities in
both Karabakh and Armenia because of its perceived threat to the
quasi-official Armenian Apostolic Church and strong opposition to
compulsory military service. Dozens of its young male members have
consciously gone to jail to avoid the two-year service.

The imprisonments have continued even after Armenia enacted a law
on alternative service in June 2004 under pressure from the Council
of Europe. The Armenian government legalized Jehovah’s Witnesses in
October 2004.