Sixteen Jehovah's Witnesses were arrested and charged with organising a criminal group and participating in extremist activities involving minors.
On 26 December 2014, the case was sent to retrial, and ended with another verdict on 30 November 2015 finding all sixteen defendants guilty.
[4][5] As justification for banning the organisation, the prosecutor's office stated that Jehovah's Witnesses refuse medical care for religious reasons, refuse civic obligations (such as conscription), noted the involvement of minors in the organisation's activities, and claimed that they were responsible for the destruction of family order.
Additionally, the prosecutor's office accused JW of degrading human dignity and inciting inter-religious hatred by promoting the supremacy of Christianity.
[6] Prior to the prosecutor's office requesting a ban on the Taganrog Jehovah's Witnesses, the latter had on 31 October 2007 been issued a warning about extremist activity, which was not appealed nor cancelled.
The property of the Taganrog JW was seized, and 34 of 68 publications the prosecutor's office had requested a ban on were outlawed.
On the basis of this case, the homes of 19 Jehovah's Witnesses in Taganrog and the nearby area were searched on 25 August 2011.
As a result, the procedure for bringing charges against Jehovah's Witnesses in May and June 2012, as well as subsequent investigative actions, was void.
According to an investigation by state authorities, the defendants continued to participate in the organisation of JW activity in Taganrog despite the ban.
[19] Per the state investigation, the defendants held meetings at which they expressed ideas mocking the dignity of religion, incited hatred for the "Christian world", promoted the supremacy of their religion over others, encouraged conscientious objection and the refusal of medical treatment to others, and involved minors in the activities of a recognised extremist organisation.
[20][21][22] According to the Sova Center, as of 2013 the Trial of the Sixteen was the largest anti-extremist case in Russia in terms of the number of defendants.
The three other defendants found guilty were convicted of "participation in the activities of an extremist organisation," and sentenced from fines ranging from ₽50,000 to ₽60,000, though they were not required to be paid due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
[19][30] On 8 August 2014, all sixteen defendants appealed the ruling of the Taganrog City Court, including those acquitted.
[33] On 26 December 2014, the case was again submitted to the Taganrog City Court for retrial by judge Aleksey Vasyutchenko.