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<p>The UK is deeply concerned by the dismissal of an appeal against the decision of
Russia's Supreme Court to categorise the Jehovah's Witnesses as extremists. This ruling
effectively criminalises the peaceful worship of some 175,000 Russian citizens and
is at odds with the right to religious freedom which is enshrined in the Russian Constitution.</p><p>I
issued a statement on 18 July expressing our concerns. We have raised this issue with
the Russian Government and continue to call on them to uphold their commitment to
this basic freedom in international fora, including in the Council of Europe.</p>
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