An appeal in Chelyabinsk upheld the sentence for convictions of 54-year-old Irina Mikhailenko - a fine

 RUSSIA


An appeal in Chelyabinsk upheld the sentence for convictions of 54-year-old Irina Mikhailenko - a fine

September 8, 2023 Chelyabinsk Region


On August 16, 2023, the Chelyabinsk Regional Court, chaired by Sergey Ivanov, approved the verdict against Irina Mikhailenko—she will have to pay a fine of 120 thousand rubles. The woman was found guilty of extremism for reading the Bible and praying with friends.


The verdict has entered into force. The believer still insists on her innocence and has the right to appeal it in cassation. Addressing the court, Mikhailenko said: "I have not done anything illegal either against the state, or against people, or against God." She added: "I try to show respect for other people, regardless of religion, race, nationality, social status, so extremism is alien to me."


Public figures and some statesmen in Russia, as well as in other countries, have consistently expressed bewilderment at the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. In their opinion, law enforcement agencies and courts should stop the repression of Jehovah's Witnesses.


Mikhaylenko case in Chelyabinsk


Brief history of the case


Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses from Chelyabinsk in 2019 changed the lives of dozens of believers. Among them is Irina Mikhailenko, director of a law firm. The believer was a witness in the case of Valentina Suvorova , but in 2021 she herself became a suspect of participation in extremist activities. Mikhailenko's house was searched again. The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk Region accused the believer of “directly participating and personally speaking at ... religious meetings,” performing songs and saying prayers. Mikhailenko was also accused of attending the international congress of Jehovah's Witnesses in South Korea. In July 2022, the case began in court. In April 2023, the court sentenced the believer to a fine of 120,000 rubles. The appeal upheld this verdict.


Criminal case


Region:

Chelyabinsk Region

Locality:

Chelyabinsk

What is suspected:

“...directly participated and personally spoke in religious meetings convened and organized by V.N. Suvorov” (from the decision to bring her as an accused)

Criminal case number:

12102750030000024

Initiated:

August 31, 2021

Current stage of the case:

verdict took effect

Investigates:

third department for investigation of particularly important cases of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk Region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Court case number:

1-16/2023

Court of First Instance:

Metallurgical District Court of Chelyabinsk

Judge of the trial court:

Lyudmila Blagodyr

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