Two editions of the *New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures*, a Bible translation used by Jehovah’s Witnesses, have been added to Russia’s Federal List of Extremist Materials, the Sova Center reported on October 30.
According to Sova, the 2017 edition is listed as No. 5521 and the 2019 edition as No. 5522. The organization dates both entries to October 30, 2026.
The listings stem from two cases at the Murmansk Regional Court, Nos. 3a-730/2026 and 3a-841/2026. Sova said copies of the books were discovered during customs inspections of the vessels WL UGLICH and ST. MARIA in January and March 2026. Regional customs officials then brought the cases to court. Sova dates one of the rulings to August 17.
According to Sova’s account of the court cases, experts engaged by customs officials characterized the books as promoting the views of an organization banned in Russia and potentially harming the interests of Eurasian Economic Union member states.
Sova considers the restrictions unjustified and calls them a form of religious discrimination.