JW.NET

 RUSSIA The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk Dmitriy Chausov Updated: August 31, 2023 Name: Chausov, Dmitriy Vladimirovich Date of Birth: February 27, 1988 Current status: accused Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2(2) Time spent in prison: 2 days in temporary holding facility, 21 days in detention center Current restrictions: detention center Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Kursk Region Address for correspondence: Chausov Dmitriy Vladimirovich, 1988 born, Detention Center No.1 for Kursk Region, ul. Pirogova, 1, Kursk, Kursk Region, 305016 Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the FSIN-letter system. To pay for letters with a foreign bank card, use the Prisonmail service. Note: in letters it is impossible to discuss topics related to criminal prosecution; letters in languages other than Russian are not allowed. Biography In August 2023, Dmitry Chausov, together with his wife Oksana , were subject to criminal prosecution only because ...

 RUSSIA Case of Kovadnev and others in Komsomolsk-on-Amur Irina Bondareva Updated: August 31, 2023 Name: Bondareva, Irina Vladimirovna Date of Birth: September 6, 1961 Current status: suspect Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (1.1) Current restrictions: summon to report Biography A series of difficulties in the life of Irina Bondareva began with the death of her husband, then she became seriously ill with Covid, and soon the police invaded her home - in May 2023, the woman’s home was searched. Irina and her son Vasily became defendants in a criminal case because of their peaceful religious beliefs. Irina was born in 1961 in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. She has an older sister and a younger brother. His father was a cabinetmaker, his mother was an insulator. Both parents are no longer alive. As a child, Irina was fond of drawing and sewing clothes. Starting from the 6th grade, I sewed my own school uniform. She also loved to read and was enrolled in three libraries. In ...

 RUSSIA Case of Kovadnev and others in Komsomolsk-on-Amur Mikhail Dorofeev Updated: August 31, 2023 Name: Dorofeev, Mikhail Arsentiyevich Date of Birth: July 20, 1965 Current status: suspect Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (1.1) Current restrictions: summon to report Biography In May 2023, Mikhail Dorofeev learned that a criminal case had been opened against him under an extremist article. His house was searched. The reason for this persecution was the man's peaceful religious beliefs. Mikhail was born in July 1965 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he lived all his life. He has an older sister. The parents are no longer alive. As a child, Mikhail loved to ride a bike and a moped. After school he received a secondary special education. He worked in the police, as a mechanic at a metallurgical plant, as well as in the housing and communal services sector. He is now retired. In his spare time he likes to use the computer. In 1986, Mikhail married Tatyana, who is also already re...

 RUSSIA Case of Kovadnev and others in Komsomolsk-on-Amur Ivan Nikitin Updated: August 31, 2023 Name: Nikitin, Ivan Viktorovich Date of Birth: January 20, 1976 Current status: suspect Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (1.1) Current restrictions: summon to report Biography In May 2023, after a series of searches, Ivan Nikitin learned that he had become a defendant in a criminal case for his faith. Law enforcement officers accused him of extremism because of peaceful talk about the Bible. Ivan was born in January 1976 in Amursk (Khabarovsk Territory). He has an elder brother and a younger brother and sister. The parents have been dead for a long time. From the 5th grade of school until graduation, Ivan was fond of rifle shooting. At the school, Ivan received the profession of a welder, after which he worked as a plumber. Two years later, he got a job in his profession, and in 2000 he moved to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he continued to work as a welder. In his free time, Ivan...

 RUSSIA An appeal in Krasnoyarsk upheld Alexander Filatov's sentence of 6 years in prison for believing in Jehovah God August 31, 2023 Krasnoyarsk Territory On July 20, 2023, a panel of judges of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, chaired by Tatyana Lukyanova, confirmed the conviction of 38-year-old Alexander Filatov. The father of two young children has already been transferred to colony No. 31 in the village of Industrialny (Krasnoyarsk). Filatov was convicted on charges of “organizing the activities of a banned extremist organization,” but essentially for discussing the Bible with his fellow believers. He still insists on his innocence of extremism and has the right to appeal the verdict in cassation. In his appeal, the believer stated that the court violated his rights guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation: “I committed the actions underlying the conviction within the framework of freedom of religion.” The defense pointed out that the court did not...

 RUSSIA    The last word of the defendant Dmitry Ravnushkin in Petrozavodsk July 24, 2023 Karelia The believer told the court about how the Bible changed his life for the better, but because of his faith he ended up in the dock. He summed up: "This criminal prosecution has ruined my reputation… But I still believe that justice will be restored and my name will be cleared of shame." Transcript of the court session in the Petrozavodsk City Court of the Republic of Karelia dated 07/24/2023 on the case 1-34/2023 (1-223/2022; 1-1110/2021) on the accusation of Dmitry Vasilyevich Ravnushkin , etc . in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Ravnushkin Dmitry Vasilyevich: Dear court and all participants in the process! This criminal prosecution and everything connected with it — the search, the interrogations, the undermining of my reputation through the media — divided my life into before and after. This terrible dream has...

 RUSSIA In the Kovrov District of the Vladimir Region, Raids on Jehovah's Witnesses Resumed. A Criminal Case Initiated August 30, 2023 Vladimir Region On August 23, 2023, searches were carried out at two addresses in the city of Kovrov, as well as at one address in the village of Melekhovo. The security forces detained Aleksandr Popov, 36, and Mikhail Sveshnikov, 53, later they were placed under house arrest. A criminal case against Sveshnikov was opened a day earlier by Y. Nikulin from the Investigative Department for Kovrov of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Vladimir Region. In his opinion, Mikhail "took part in religious meetings" and "spoke at them", which law enforcement officers groundlessly equate with participation in the activities of a liquidated legal entity of Jehovah's Witnesses (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to which case the investigative measures were taken aga...

 Russia   The last word of the defendant Sergey Logunov in Orenburg July 26, 2023 Orenburg region In his last word, the believer drew attention to the fact that he was being tried not for some extremist actions, but for believing in God, and that the prosecution throughout the whole process proved not the fact of committing some crime, but that he professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Transcript of the court session in the Industrial District Court of Orenburg dated 26.07.2023 on the case 1-1/2023 (1-2/2022; 1-139/2021; 1-62/2020; 1-501/2019) on the accusation of Sergey Viktorovich Logunov and others . in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Logunov Sergey Viktorovich: So the trial of such an unusual case for this area is coming to an end. Why unusual? Because the trial of Jehovah's Witnesses is here for the first time. I would like to thank everyone who took part in it. Your Honor, I want to thank you first ...

 RUSSIA Irina Perefilyeva from Mednogorsk was sentenced to 4.5 years of probation for reading the Bible August 29, 2023 Karachay-Cherkessia On August 28, 2023, the Urupsky District Court of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic found 58-year-old Irina Perefilyeva guilty of extremism because of her faith. Judge Ida Uzdenova sentenced her to 4 years and 6 months probation with a probationary period of 2.5 years. “My religious beliefs have nothing to do with extremism,” Irina Perefilyeva said at the trial. “My conscience is clear before the law, society and the state, because I did not commit the crime of which I am accused.” In January 2021, in the village of Mednogorsk, FSB officers raided the apartments of believers, including Irina. After 10 months, she was searched. The investigator of the Zelenchuk Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic accused Irina of involvement...

 RUSSIA In Orenburg, a court equated friendly meetings in cafes with extremism. Five believers received from 2.5 to 3.5 years probation August 29, 2023 Orenburg Region On August 28, 2023, the judge of the Industrial District Court of Orenburg, Diana Sudorgina, found five Jehovah's Witnesses guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist organization and sentenced them to 2.5 to 3.5 years of probation. The prosecutor asked for the same terms for them, but with serving in a general regime colony. Believers deny their guilt in extremism. 60-year-old Sergei Logunov was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months of probation with restriction of freedom for 8 months with a probationary period of 2 years. The court sentenced 30-year-old Vladislav Kolbanov to 3 years and 6 months of probation with restriction of freedom for 10 months with a probationary period of 3 years. 42-year-old Vladimir Kochnev received 2 years and 8 months of probation with restriction of liberty for 10 months wit...

 RUSSIA    The last word of the defendant Pavel Lekontsev in Orenburg July 26, 2023 Orenburg region Comparing the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses with the persecution of the first Christians, the believer noted: "I think it is obvious to everyone present where and as whom Jesus Christ would be here in court right now… Whatever the court's decision, I am determined to continue following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ!" Transcript of the court session in the Industrial District Court of Orenburg dated 26.07.2023 in the case 1-1/2023 (1-2/2022; 1-139/2021; 1-62/2020; 1-501/2019) on the accusation of Pavel Alexandrovich Lekontsev and others . in committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Lekontsev Pavel Alexandrovich: Dear court! I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all participants in this long process. Thank you, dear court, for such an unusual opportunity to strengthen my confidence that I am followi...

 RUSSIA New criminal case and searches on Sakhalin. Believers are suspected of extremism because of the discussion of the Bible August 28, 2023 Sakhalin Region On August 22, 2023, at least two addresses were searched in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and in the port city of Korsakov. Four people were detained for interrogation, after which the security forces released them. Early in the morning, law enforcement officers knocked on the door of 39-year-old Roman Gumenyuk and his wife. The believers opened, after which the senior investigator of the Korsakov MSO of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Sakhalin Region Sergey Nevidimov acquainted them with the search warrant in the framework of a criminal case initiated under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization). The search took place in the presence of an armed security official, a technical specialist and two witnes...

 Russia  The last word of the defendant Nikolai Zhugin in Orenburg July 26, 2023 Speaking with the last word, the believer appealed to justice, prompting the court not to determine guilt only by his religious beliefs. He stated: "Everyone who really knows me as a person understands that my lifestyle is far from extremism and that they judge me solely for my faith." Transcript of the court session in the Industrial District Court of Orenburg dated 07/26/2023 in the case 1-1/2023 on charges of Zhugin Nikolay Nikolaevich and others. in committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Zhugin Nikolay Nikolaevich: Jehovah's Witnesses are grateful people. And therefore, Your Honor, I want to thank you for your trust. Somehow, during the trial, you let me go on vacation with my family, for my part, I am grateful to you for this and glad that I did not let down your trust in me. Thank you, dear Secretary, for your courtesy and hard w...

 RUSSIA “Nothing Brings Me Greater Joy Than My Relationship With Jehovah” August 25, 2023 The Goryacheklyuchevskoy City Court of the Krasnodar Territory will soon announce its verdict in the case involving Brother Pavel Sidorenko. The prosecutor has yet to request a potential sentence. Profile Pavel Sidorenko Born: 1958 (Krymsk, Krasnodar Territory) Biography: Worked as a mechanical engineer Married Marina in 1981. They have one daughter Became interested in Jehovah’s Witnesses when his questions about the origin of life were answered from the Bible. He and Marina were baptized in 1991 Personal Comments What verses from the Bible have encouraged you during this challenging period? I appreciate what is explained at Romans 8:38, 39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God’s love.” Having that reassurance of Jehovah’s con...

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Vladimir Kochnev in Orenburg July 26, 2023 Orenburg region The believer told the court about the laws of the Creator's love, according to which Jehovah's Witnesses try to live, so he concluded: "Everything connected with extremist motives is unacceptable, absurd and ridiculous for me. What the prosecution attributes to me is completely contrary to my Christian principles." Transcript of the court session in the Industrial District Court of Orenburg dated 26.07.2023 on the case 1-1/2023 (1-2/2022; 1-139/2021; 1-62/2020; 1-501/2019) on the accusation of Vladimir Yurievich Kochnev and others . in committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Kochnev Vladimir Yurievich: Dear participants of the process, I want to thank all of you for your patience. The consideration of our criminal case cannot be called simple. All of us have spent many days of our lives to understand the subtleties...