24/04/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 21 April, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service criticised the previous day's decision by the Russia's Supreme Court to ban the activities of the Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia on grounds of "extremism", which "could make it possible to launch criminal prosecutions against Jehovah's Witnesses for mere acts of worship". Religious groups "must be able to peacefully enjoy freedom of assembly without interference, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, as well as by Russia's international commitments and international human rights standards", the EEAS spokesperson stated, adding that the EU continues to promote freedom of religion or belief as a right to be exercised by everyone everywhere, based on the principles of equality, non-discrimination and universality. There are reportedly 175,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. (CG)