For Immediate Release
March 09, 2011

ULAN-UDE, Russia—Daisuke Nomura, a student studying the Russian language at the Buryatia State University, will be deported back to Japan. According to local authorities, a foreign student in Russia is not permitted to profess the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nomura, a 28-year-old from the city of Osaka, Japan, had only four months left to complete his studies and receive a diploma.

In August 2010, Sergey Pugachyov, the head of the local FSB department, demanded that the Federal Migration Service for the Republic of Buryatia take measures against Mr. Nomura, issuing his deportation if necessary. The Supreme Court of the Republic of Buryatia supported this action on three occasions. When Nomura’s visa was revoked, he was prevented from finishing his education, since he would not be allowed to attend school in Russia and practice his religion at the same time. Nomura appealed the decision in Russia’s courts over several months. However, on February 2, 2011, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Buryatia handed down a final ruling which was enforced immediately, leaving Nomura without legal recourse.

Mr. Daisuke Nomura expressed his bewilderment stating: “What good is my student visa if my religious beliefs result in my deportation? This ruling shows that Russia denies foreign students the right to freedom of religion, though this freedom is guaranteed by the Russian Constitution.”

Contacts:
In Russia: Grigory Martynov, tel. +7 812 702 2691
In Belgium: The European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses, tel. +32 2 782 0015
In USA: J. R. Brown, tel. +1 718 560 5600

Source: JW Media

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