Tomich Sergey Klimov was released from a penal colony in Astrakhan after serving his sentence

 Russia


Tomich Sergey Klimov was released from a penal colony in Astrakhan after serving his sentence

July 26, 2023 Tomsk region, Astrakhan region


On July 26, 2023, Sergey Klimov was released from the colony where he was serving his sentence for believing in God Jehovah. Relatives and numerous friends greeted Sergey with flowers and posters. During the whole time of the persecution, the believer spent 5 years behind bars.


Sergei was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention center back in June 2018 after searches in Tomsk. When, in April 2020, the appeal approved the sentence — 6 years in a general regime colony — Klimov was transferred to Astrakhan correctional colony No. 8. Since a day of detention in a pre-trial detention center counts for a day and a half in a general regime colony, in fact, Sergei spent more than 3.5 years in a correctional institution after the verdict was announced.


During his imprisonment, Sergei's eyesight deteriorated significantly. In addition, in October 2020, doctors discovered Sergei had a serious lung problem. The documents for treatment were drawn up for a long time, which is why the disease progressed. The believer was taken by ambulance to a medical and correctional institution, where he spent a month and a half.


Sergey got his first date with his wife only after 9 months behind bars. Before that, they could only call on the phone. Sergei received hundreds of letters from fellow believers from different cities and countries, but the colony staff rarely passed them to him.


At the moment, 127 Jehovah's Witnesses (7 of them women) are imprisoned in Russia for their faith. The ECHR and human rights defenders from different countries call on the Russian Federation to stop mass repressions against believers.


Klimov's case in Tomsk


Brief case history


Sergey Klimov, a native of the Volgograd region, was sent to jail after a series of raids on believers in Tomsk. Before detaining Sergei, the special services followed him and his acquaintances for about a year and sent informers with special equipment to him. Law enforcement officers explained such diligence by fighting a "serious crime", which turned out to be Sergei's Christian lifestyle and his conversations about the Bible with other people. In November 2019, the court sentenced Sergei to 6 years in a penal colony. In February 2020, the verdict was approved by the regional court, and in January 2022 — the Court of Cassation. The believer was serving his sentence in correctional colony No. 8 in Astrakhan. In July 2023, Sergei was released from the colony. He is prohibited from engaging in educational activities and making publications on the Internet for 5 years, as well as restrictions on freedom will be in effect for 1 year.


Summary of the case


Region:

Tomsk region

Locality:

Tomsk

What is suspected of:

according to investigators, he conducted services together with others, which is interpreted as "organizing the activities of an extremist organization" (with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on the liquidation of all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses)

Criminal case number:

11802690013000085

Initiated:

June 3, 2018

Current stage of the case:

the verdict has entered into force

Investigates:

SU IC of the Russian Federation in the Tomsk region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

1-417/19

Court of First instance:

Oktyabrsky District Court of Tomsk

Judge of the Court of First instance:

Dmitry Borisov

Court of Appeal:

Tomsk Regional Court


In the photos:


 Sergey Klimov with his wife Yulia on the day of the liberation.

 Relatives and friends meet Sergey Klimov at the exit from the colony.

 Yulia Klimova meets Sergey at the checkpoint.

 Sergey Klimov with his wife Yulia, daughter and son-in-law.

 Sergey's friends celebrate his release.

 Gifts to Sergey Klimov on the day of the liberation.

 Sergey Klimov with friends after the release.

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