Appeal in Krasnoyarsk Upheld Ivan Shulyuk's Sentence: Seven Years Suspended for Convictions

 RUSSIA


Appeal in Krasnoyarsk Upheld Ivan Shulyuk's Sentence: Seven Years Suspended for Convictions

September 21, 2023 Krasnoyarsk Territory


On September 19, 2023, by decision of a panel of judges of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court chaired by Diana Davydenko, the sentence against Ivan Shulyuk, 47, a Jehovah's Witness from Siberia, entered into force.


In May 2023, the court imposed a 7-year suspended sentence on Shulyuk with a 4-year probationary period, considering the discussion of the Bible, prayers and singing religious songs with friends of the court as organizing the activities of an extremist organization. The believer does not agree with the sentence that has entered into force. In his last word, addressing the court of appeal, he stated that the investigation is substituting concepts, as it "deliberately interprets legitimate religious activity as the activity of a banned legal entity."


In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, 30 Jehovah's Witnesses have already faced persecution for their faith, 10 of them have been convicted. Human rights activists unanimously condemn the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. Elizabeth Clark, an international expert on human rights and European Union law, said: "Jehovah's Witnesses . . . face increasing persecution of its members in Russia for exercising their rights to freedom of religion or belief. This violates Russia's obligations under international law and its own Constitution."


Shulyuk case in Nazarovo


Brief history of the case


Ivan Shulyuk’s grandparents were subjected to repression for their faith in the 1940s and 1950s. And in 2020, their grandson, a peaceful believer from Nazarov, faced the same persecution. In June, Ivan ended up in a temporary detention center after massive searches in his city. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against him on suspicion of organizing the activities of an extremist organization solely because of his religion. Shulyuk spent about a month in custody, then he was released on his own recognizance. In August 2021, the case went to trial. The case materials contained expert opinions confirming that the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited, and there are no signs of extremism in the materials examined. In May 2023, the city court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory sentenced the believer to 7 years probation. An appeal upheld the decision in September.


Criminal case


Region:

Krasnoyarsk Territory

Locality:

Nazarovo

What is suspected:

According to investigators, he is a “manager with broad functionality” and “forms a strong opinion on the need to continue the activities of the religious organization Jehovah’s Witnesses despite its ban.”

Criminal case number:

12002040035000015

Initiated:

June 17, 2020

Current stage of the case:

verdict took effect

Investigates:

Main Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-4/2023 (1-26/2022; 1-365/2021)

Court of First Instance:

Nazarovo City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory

Judge of the trial court:

Lev Afanasiev


In the photo: Ivan Shulyuk with his wife Yuliya on the day of appeal.

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