08-25-99 CLARIFICATION ON RUSSIAN MISSIONARY ARREST
We received several messages from families of missionaries serving in the
Russia South mission, where four Elders were arrested earlier this week,
clarifying the somewhat inaccurate and incomplete accounts that were in
the Utah media. Bryan Eldredge heard from his niece in that mission.
She described the practice of "signboarding," where missionaries post a
sign on a sidewalk to encourage conversations with passing residents.
She said arrests are not uncommon, and that "almost everyone serving a
mission in Russia seems to get arrested sometime or later." The mission
has a lawyer who is working to correct the problem.
Another message forwarded by the sister of one of the missionaries
involved in the incident explains that the four missionaries arrested this
week were charged with "picketing" and not with "illegal assembly,
disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest" as reported on the radio in
Utah. When the missionaries were brought before a judge, the charges were
not dismissed; they were found guilty but then released without even a
fine, but were asked not to engage in the practice for 15 days and to ask
permission for future signboarding plans. An attorney for the Church will
be appealing the ruling and asking for a change in the definition of
"picketing" that will allow the missionaries to continue their activities.