Irina Perefilyeva from Mednogorsk was sentenced to 4.5 years of probation for reading the Bible

 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 in the activities of an extremist organization and participation in it. This is how investigators interpreted Irina's conversations with others about the Bible and her participation in peaceful religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses.


They took a written undertaking not to leave Perefilyeva in October 2022. In addition, she was included in the list of Rosfinmonitoring, all accounts and deposits of the believer were blocked. She shares: "This delays the issuance of pensions and creates inconvenience in paying utility bills and other services." Irina has an 85-year-old mother and a disabled son who are dependent.


The investigation lasted a year and in November 2022 the case went to court. As the defense emphasizes, no evidence of the believer's guilt was provided. A key witness for the prosecution, a local resident, stated that she herself turned to Irina with Bible questions. She also stressed that she had never heard calls from Irina for any illegal activity. During the hearings, the judge added to the case a letter from Irina's co-religionists, received from Germany, with a request not to punish Irina Perefilyeva for her faith.


The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed.


Active persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Karachay-Cherkessia has been observed since 2010 . Four people became defendants in the criminal cases. Two of them have already received suspended sentences.


The case of Perefilyeva in Mednogorsk


Brief history of the case


In January 2021, in the village of Mednogorsk, FSB officers conducted surveys in the apartments of local believers, including Irina Perefilyeva. In November 2021, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against her for involvement in the activities of an extremist organization. The next day, her apartment was searched. In the same month, Perefilyeva was also accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. In November 2022, the case went to court. A key witness for the prosecution stated that she herself asked Irina to discuss the Bible with her. At the same time, she noted that she did not hear calls for any illegal activity from the believer. In August 2023, the judge sentenced Irina Perefilyeva to 4 years and 6 months of probation.


Criminal case


Region:

Karachay-Cherkessia

Locality:

Mednogorsk

What is suspected:

according to investigators, “shared the goals and objectives” of the local religious organization, and also “voluntarily took part in its activities”

Case number:

12102910004000086

Initiated:

November 22, 2021

Current stage of the case:

trial in appellate court

Investigating:

Zelenchuk Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the RF Investigative Committee for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)

Case number in court:

1-28/2023 (1-108/2022)

Court of First Instance:

Urupsky District Court of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Ida Uzdenova

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