A string of Jehovah's Witnesses have been convicted since Russia's Supreme Court banned the Christian denomination as an "extremist organization" in 2017.
Dennis Christensen was arrested during prayer. "I hope today is the day Russia defends religious freedom," he said before the verdict. Critics call it a severe crackdown on religious freedom.
The country's Supreme Court has ruled that the sect must cease operations and the state will take over its assets. The sect has been subject to arrests, property seizure and bans on its literature.
When it comes to education, not all religions are created equal. Jehovah's Witnesses have the lowest rate of formal education. And that can have a detrimental effect on those who leave the religion.
