The last word of the defendant Dmitry Yarchak in Nizhnekamsk

 Russia

 

The last word of the defendant Dmitry Yarchak in Nizhnekamsk

on September 9 , 2023

Tatarstan


Addressing the court with the last word, the believer told why extremism is alien to him. He also drew attention to the fact that the laws of Russia and the Constitution do not prohibit him from remaining a Jehovah's Witness.


Transcript of the court session in the Nizhnekamsk City Court of the Republic of Tatarstan dated 05.09.2023 in the case 1-17/2023 (1-254/2022) on the charges of Dmitry Alexandrovich Yarchak and others. in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.


Yarchak Dmitry Alexandrovich:


I want to start with words of gratitude. Thanks to everyone who came to the courtroom to support us. Thank you to my soulmate for being there for me in a difficult moment of my life and ready to support me. The state prosecutor, although our religious views are different, tried to respect me. For example, I tried to learn how to pronounce the name of God correctly.


Your Honor, thank you so much for being able to hear, and not just listen. It was clearly visible during the court sessions — you didn't interrupt anyone. Listening to the opinions, they asked the participants in the process, and then they spoke the opinion of the court. Listening is an art. Thank you!


Also, thank you to your assistant for being friendly. She always greeted us with a smile. Thank you to the lawyers for trying to get to the bottom of the case throughout the whole process. I thank my lawyer, Aigul Mansurovna, for her literacy and knowledge of the law. Despite the heavy workload, she actively defended me.


I'm not ashamed of my life, I'm not ashamed to look people in the eye. I'm here for good deeds. And as we know, good always wins over evil. According to the state prosecutor, in 7 years I have to accept another faith, change my beliefs. Just imagine for a moment: I went to prison, and they ask me why you were put in prison as a disabled person? And I say: "For reading and talking about the Bible." How many interesting conversations there will be! Perhaps someone even wants to get closer to God. What a great honor my God has bestowed on me. I do not know how it will be there. There are a lot of basic things I can't do, like tying my shoelaces or cutting my nails on my left hand. But I am sure, as it is written in the Bible: "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid and do not be terrified; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).


Of course, my physical and emotional health has been shaken, but my faith has become stronger. 2 Timothy 3:12 says: "And all who wish to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." So I'm on the right track. 2 Timothy 4:2 encourages Christians: "Proclaim the Message, stand on duty at the appointed and out-of-hours time... without losing patience."


So the time has come, you just don't need to lose faith because of this. I want to remain a Christian, to live by the "golden rule", which is written in Matthew 7:12 verse: "So in everything, as you want people to do to you, so do you with them," so extremism is alien to me.


As a citizen of Russia, I enjoy the right guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution "to profess individually or jointly with others any religion or not to profess any, freely choose, have and disseminate religious and other beliefs and act in accordance with them."


I did not have the goal of resuming the activities of the MRO, therefore, Your Honor, I ask you to acquit me.


Summary of the case


Region:

Tatarstan

Locality:

Nizhnekamsk

What is suspected:

according to investigators, "creating and matching a favorable image [of a believer], singing special songs, hymns, prayers"

Criminal case number:

12002920022000071

Initiated:

November 12, 2020

The current stage of the case:

the appeal

is being investigated by:

SU IC RF for the Republic of Tatarstan

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

1-17/2023 (1-254/2022)

Court:

Nizhnekamsk City Court of the Republic of Tatarstan

Judge of the Court of First instance:

Sergey Kamenov

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