E/CN.4/2001/0063 page 15 Accordingly, a ruling was issued to the effect that a survey should be conducted to determine what the local residents thought of the prospect of a public place of worship on their doorstep. Agreement was reached in May 2000, whereupon the City of St. Petersburg’s Urban Planning Architecture Committee authorized the head office of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses to proceed with preliminary studies with a view to the renovation of the building referred to above. At present, now that a new municipal administration has taken office following the recent election of the Governor of St. Petersburg, a number of documents relating to the renovation of the building are undergoing further review by the municipal authorities.” 40. The Special Rapporteur requests the Russian Federation to inform him of any further action taken as a result of the further review. 41. According to a second communication, on 20 August 2000 a group of armed men calling themselves the Almighty Cossack Army of the Don were reported to have broken up a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Volgograd, threatening them and destroying Bibles and other religious literature. Afterwards the minister of the congregation was allegedly beaten by members of the same group. On 21 August 2000 this group once again attacked a gathering of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Volgograd. Georgia 42. On 17 October 1999, a mob lead by Bassilists (followers of the teaching of a priest excommunicated by the Georgian Orthodox Church) is alleged to have perpetrated a violent attack on 120 Jehovah’s Witnesses, including women and children, during a religious service in Tbilisi. The police were called but reportedly refused to protect the Jehovah’s Witnesses, 15 of whom are said to have been hosptalized. These events were reportedly filmed and subsequently broadcast by the local media. The victims are said to have lodged a complaint with the Office of the Public Prosecutor. 43. Georgia replied: “On 29 February 2000, the Permanent Mission of Georgia received an official reply from the Deputy Secretary of the National Security Council on Human Rights Issues of Georgia, which states that, on 17 October 1999, a group of Bassilists indeed reportedly attacked Jehovah’s Witnesses. Based on this fact, on 18 October 1999, proceedings were instituted by the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. A number of investigation activities have been carried out and 100 witnesses have been examined. However, additional work which should be done requires the continuation of the case. As soon as further information is available, it will be immediately forwarded to you.”