Dennis Christensen Left in Pre-Trial Detention, Defense Motions Rejected

On July 20, 2017, by the decision of the Sovetsky District Court of Orel, Danish citizen Dennis Christensen was left in a pre-trial detention center for another 4 months, until November 23. The court decided to extend his preventive measure as a criminal who committed a "serious offense", despite the complete absence of corpus delicti and victims.

The court rejected all of the defense's motions except one, for a public hearing. The judge did not agree to release the believer under house arrest with a bail of 1 million rubles, insisting that a peaceful believer should be isolated from society, although the investigation still cannot explain what his crime is.

The investigation continues to mislead the court by claiming that Christensen is the leader of the banned local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in the city of Oryol. In fact, he was never even a member of this organization.

The trial was attended by numerous foreign observers, including the Danish Vice-Consul and Danish and German media representatives.

The believer's lawyers are preparing an appeal.