STAVROPOL, June 21 (RIA Novosti's Valery Oliyanchuk) - The ataman council of the Georgiyevsk department of the Tersky Cossack Troops in the Stavropol territory (Russia's south) has sent an open letter to the local and territorial authorities condemning the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses.

First of all, the Cossacks and Orthodox clergymen are concerned about the political activities of the sect. In particular, the sect prohibits its members to serve in the army, join other organizations, vote in elections, respect the national flag and anthem, and celebrate birthdays and Christian holidays.

The main purpose of Jehovah's Witnesses is to collect money and enlist new members.

"On March 26, 2004 Moscow's Golovinsky Court satisfied the petition of the prosecutor's office of Moscow's northern district and decided to liquidate the community of Jehovah's Witnesses in accordance with Article 14 of the law on freedom of conscience as its activities are aimed at religious discord, breaking families, etc." the open letter reads. It contains the request of Cossacks and Orthodox clergymen to thoroughly analyze the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Stavropol territory, first of all, the Georgiyevsk district, and to take relevant measures.

The suit against Jehovah's Witnesses was initiated in September 1998. Having checked the community, the prosecutor's office of Moscow's northern district came to the conclusion that its activities are aimed at religious discord, breaking families, etc. Moreover, Jehovah's witnesses persuaded gravely ill people to give up medical aid for religious reasons.

The prosecutor's office accused Jehovah's Witnesses of extremist activities.