Court in Moscow Passed Another Harsh Sentence to Three Jehovah's Witnesses—From 4.5 to 6.5 Years in a Penal Colony for Their Faith

 RUSSIA

Court in Moscow Passed Another Harsh Sentence to Three Jehovah's Witnesses—From 4.5 to 6.5 Years in a Penal Colony for Their Faith

July 13, 2023 Moscow

On July 12, 2023, the Savelovsky District Court of Moscow found three Jehovah's Witnesses guilty of extremism for "commenting on fragments of [biblical] texts." Anatoliy Marunov was sentenced to 6.5 years in a penal colony, Sergey Tolokonnikov— to 5 years, and Roman Mareyev— to 4.5 years.

More than 100 people came to the courthouse to support the believers. Anatoliy Marunov, 69, who was under house arrest during the investigation and trial was taken into custody after the verdict was announced. All three still plead not guilty and may appeal the verdict.

The lawyer for the defendants expressed his attitude to the charge, which, in his opinion, "is based on the principle of criminalization of human actions depending on the religion they profess." He stated: “The usual actions for every believer: spreading one's religious beliefs, participating in worship, become, according to the state prosecution, a crime solely because of the commission of such actions by Jehovah's Witnesses. In this regard, I believe that the accusation violates the rights of believers, since it does not describe the essence of the crime, but is based on discrimination on religious grounds.”

The criminal prosecution of believers in Moscow began in the early October morning of 2021, when searches were carried out at 8 addresses. Mareyev, Marunov and Tolokonnikov were brought as defendants. After many hours of interrogation, the believers were placed in a temporary detention facility. By the time the verdict was passed, Roman and Sergey had spent more than 20 months in a pre-trial detention center, while Anatoliy was under house arrest.

At first, Roman Mareyev did not have a bed in the pre-trial detention center, and he had to sleep on the floor. Sergey Tolokonnikov was taken out in the morning to the evening court sessions and was not allowed to take any food or water with him. Anatoliy Marunov, who is under house arrest, was forbidden even short walks necessary for him for health reasons.

In June 2022, the believers' case was brought to court. The accusation was based on an audio recording of conversations with an FSB agent who pretended to be interested in the Bible. During the hearings, the defense pointed out that the use of the name Jehovah in a conversation cannot indicate any extremist activity.

The defendants described how they were supported by fellow believers: “Letters came from all over the world! And once, when we were taken out of the courthouse at 01:30 at night, we heard applause, and when we got into the paddy wagon, the support group sang a song we knew.”

To date, 13 Jehovah's Witnesses are being prosecuted for their faith in Moscow, six more of them have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 to 6 years. A report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance expressed concern that "the anti-extremist legislation [of the Russian Federation] is used against certain religious minorities, in particular against Jehovah's Witnesses." ECRI noted that the 2017 decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation “effectively prohibits Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the country from practicing their faith” (par. 101).

The case of Mareev and others in Moscow

Brief history of the case

In October 2021, the Investigative Committee conducted at least 8 searches in different districts of Moscow and the Moscow Region. Anatoly Marunov, Sergei Tolokonnikov and Roman Mareev were detained and sent to a temporary detention facility. Later, Mareev and Tolokonnikov were placed in a pre-trial detention center, and Marunov was placed under house arrest. A criminal case was initiated against them under an extremist article. In June 2022, the case went to court. The accusation was based on notes made by an FSB agent who pretended to be interested in the Bible. In July 2023, the defendants were sentenced: Marunov - 6.5 years, Tolokonnikov - 5 years, and Mareev - 4.5 years in a penal colony.

Criminal case

Region:

Moscow

Locality:

Moscow

What is suspected:

“they showed themselves as leaders and communicative leaders of a religious organization, which was expressed in organizing and conducting conversations, controlling the speech activity of the interlocutors, commenting on the read fragments of the text” (from the decision to bring them as accused)

Case number:

12102450011000104

Initiated:

October 20, 2021

Current stage of the case:

trial in appellate court

Investigating:

Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Directorate for the SAO of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the City of Moscow

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

01-0123/2023 (01-0997/2022)

Court of First Instance:

Savelovsky District Court of Moscow

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Dmitry Zozulya

In the photos: 

1. From left to right: Anatoly Marunov, Sergei Tolokonnikov and Roman Mareev at the announcement of the verdict.

2. Anatoly Marunov is taken away in handcuffs after the verdict is announced.

3. Anatoly Marunov with his wife Alevtina at the courthouse.