02:18Russia: Danish Jehovah's Witness sentenced to six years behind bars
Danish citizen Dennis Christensen was sentenced to six years in a Russian prison for "organising the activity of an extremist organisation", according to the verdict at the Zheleznodorozhny District Court in the city of Oryol on Wednesday.
Christensen, who has been living in Russia since 1999 and is married to a Russian woman, is an adherent of the Jehovah's Witnesses denominations, a sect of Christianity.
He was arrested in Oryol in May 2017, after Russia's Supreme Court banned the religious group for violating its laws against extremism.
"He said it was a mistake. That he doesn't understand why he is considered a criminal and that he would appeal against this decision for sure," said Anton Bogdanov, Christensen's lawyer.
Christensen refused to plead guilty.
02:18Danish citizen Dennis Christensen was sentenced to six years in a Russian prison for "organising the activity of an extremist organisation", according to the verdict at the Zheleznodorozhny District Court in the city of Oryol on Wednesday.
Christensen, who has been living in Russia since 1999 and is married to a Russian woman, is an adherent of the Jehovah's Witnesses denominations, a sect of Christianity.
He was arrested in Oryol in May 2017, after Russia's Supreme Court banned the religious group for violating its laws against extremism.
"He said it was a mistake. That he doesn't understand why he is considered a criminal and that he would appeal against this decision for sure," said Anton Bogdanov, Christensen's lawyer.
Christensen refused to plead guilty.