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 KERALA - INDIA  THE NUMBER OF DEATHS NOW AMOUNTS TO THREE.  Two women who had attended the Jehovah's Witness convention died on Sunday, while a 12-year-old girl with 95% burns succumbed to her injuries on Monday morning.  17 people were admitted to different hospitals after the explosions, 12 of whom were in intensive care.  "Four are seriously injured, three of them are on ventilators. Those who are seriously injured have burns of more than 50-60%."  CONTRIBUTED FROM INDIA  We received these guidelines this morning.  Dear brothers and sisters, due to the recent explosion that took place today during a convention in Kerala.  We will not hold in-person Christian meetings until we receive further instructions.  All meetings will be held via Zoom (video conference)  We will keep you informed with future updates.  Meanwhile, keep in mind 2 Corinthians 1:3,4  Thank you.  Those demonic and crazy apostate people are so twisted and evil that they only think about killing peacefu

 RUSSIA Cassation Court Did Not Change the Verdict of Aleksandr Kalistratov, Who Was Acquitted 13 Years Ago. He Will Continue to Serve a 6.5-Year Suspended Sentence for Believing in Jehovah God October 31, 2023 Altai On October 31, 2023, the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Kemerovo upheld the sentence for faith of 47-year-old Aleksandr Kalistratov — 6.5 years of suspended sentence. Earlier, in 2010, the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic fully acquitted Kalistratov under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In April 2023, the same court upheld the conviction for peaceful conversations about God. The believer continued to defend his innocence. In his cassation appeal, he stated: "My motive was not extremist motives, but the intention to exercise the right to profess and spread the faith in the ways specific to Jehovah's Witnesses." The defense believes that these judicial acts were issued in violation of the law, as well as inte

 RUSSIA “Do Not Look at the Windstorm” October 31, 2023 The Sovietskiy District Court of Krasnodar will soon announce its verdict in the case involving Brother Aleksey Lelikov. The prosecutor has yet to request a potential sentence. Profile Aleksey Lelikov Born: 1960 (Krasnodar, Krasnodar Territory) Biography: Worked as a music teacher Married Irina in 1979. They have a son and a daughter Aleksey and Irina were both atheists. He had become disillusioned with human reasoning. Began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses as a family. Both baptized in 1994 Personal Comments What has helped you to cope with anxiety? A few months after the investigation began, I realized that I was often worrying about what was going to happen and even pitying myself a bit. I was like Peter, who started looking at the windstorm. (Matthew 14:30) One night, I felt particularly anxious. I started praying intensely, begging Jehovah to calm my heart. I slept peacefully that night. In the morning, however, I

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Sergei Malianov in Nizhny Novgorod April 21 , 2023 Nizhny Novgorod region From the courtroom In his last word , the defendant firmly stated: "I want to continue to share the good news about the earthly paradise, wherever I find myself. I wish to continue to comfort the mourners and rejoice with those who rejoice. I want to continue to love God with all my heart and my neighbor as myself." Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Nizhny Novgorod dated 04/21/2023 in the case 1-3/2023 on charges of Malianov Sergey Ivanovich and others. in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Malianov Sergey Ivanovich: Dear Court, first of all I want to thank all the participants in this trial, starting with Senior investigator O. V. Makerov, M. A. Korzunova, who showed restraint and self-control, as well as treated me with respect and understanding during the investigation

 RUSSIA The last word of the defendant Dmitry Barmakin in Vladivostok during the retrial of the case April 26 , 2023 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom In his speech, the believer said that he did not understand what would have to change if the court punished him for his faith: "Thanks to my religion, I do not take drugs, I do not smoke, I do not swear ... I do not participate in protest rallies, I do not insult the authorities. Do I really need to fix all this?" Transcript of the court session in Pervorechenskiy District Court of Vladivostok dated 04/26/2023 on the case 1-43/2023 (1-391/2022; 1-305/2021; 1-21/2020; 1-388/2019) on the charge of Dmitry Viktorovich Barmakin of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Barmakin Dmitry Viktorovich: Your Honor, at the beginning I would like to express my gratitude to you, because you created a respectful atmosphere at the meetings and allowed both the prosecution and the defens

 KERALA - INDIA Explosions in Jehovah’s Witnesses convention in Kerala, one dead 29th Oct, 2023  A woman was killed and 23 others injured in blasts that took place inside a convention centre in Kalamassery in Kerala’s Ernakulam district on Sunday, October 29. According to the district administration, five injured persons are in critical condition in the ICU. The blasts took place amidst a prayer by the Jehovah's Witnesses community at Zamra International Convention Centre. According to reports, there were at least 2,000 people inside the convention centre at around 10 am when the explosions took place. It is not yet clear what caused the blasts, however many eye witnesses said that there were at least three explosions in succession. The first explosion was in the middle of the auditorium, right where people were gathered. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, speaking to the media, said that the blast was unfortunate and that further investigation was underway. He also added that top po

 Russia The last word of the defendant Vadim Fedorov in Asha on April 27 , 2023 . Chelyabinsk region From the courtroom The believer told the court how the unjust persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses generates religious intolerance: "[It] makes people think that we ... are not Christians, but criminals… I try to live by the norms and commandments that are set out in the Bible, and for me it is sacred." Transcript of the court session in the Ashinsky City Court of the Chelyabinsk Region dated 04/27/2023 in the case 1-8/2023 (1-237/2022) on charges of Fedorov Vadim Veniaminovich of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Fedorov Vadim Veniaminovich: I want to start my last word with words of gratitude. I want to say a big thank you, Your Honor, for your attitude towards me. I was pleased that you did not feel any hostility to me on religious grounds, tried to approach this complex case soberly and impartially and listen

 RUSSIA Bushev case in Chelyabinsk Yevgeniy Bushev Updated: October 26, 2023 Name: Bushev, Yevgeniy Valeriyevich Date of Birth: November 9, 1973 Current status: defendant Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (2) Current restrictions: recognizance agreement Biography Yevgeniy Bushev found out that he was a defendant in a criminal case for his faith in September 2022, when the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in his hometown of Chelyabinsk and he himself became one of the victims of illegal actions by law enforcement officials. Yevgeniy was born in November 1973 in Chelyabinsk. He has a younger sister. Their mother worked as a nurse in a kindergarten. Parents divorced when the boy was 6. After 30 years, Yevgeniy resumed communication with his father, and they kept in touch until his death. The mother is also no longer alive. From his youth, Yevgeniy was seriously fond of sports—first boxing, then karate, participated in city competitions. He wanted to improve in mart

 Russia   Andrey Sazonov's last word in the Urals October 17, 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC In the last word, the defendant, describing his criminal prosecution, recalled a well-known aphorism: "A lie can already go around half the world while the truth is waking up." He expressed the hope that his good name would be restored. Transcript of the court session in the Uraisk City Court of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug of 17.10.2023 ode on the case 1-6/2023 on charges of Andrei Vladimirovich Sazonov of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 and Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Sazonov Andrey Vladimirovich: Maybe you don't often have to hear something positive from the defendants in your address, but as a defendant I want to start my last word with a positive, with words of gratitude. First of all, I want to thank you, Igor Ivanovich, for the desire to delve into and understand this matter. You actively participated in the in

 RUSSIA The Court Sentenced the Previously Acquitted Aleksey Khabarov to 2.5 Years in Prison October 25, 2023 Pskov Region On October 20, 2023, the Porkhov District Court of the Pskov Region issued a verdict in the case Aleksey Khabarov, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, for the third time. This time, judge Natalia Kapustina found him guilty of extremism and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in a general regime colony. He was taken into custody in the courtroom. Khabarov's accusation of extremism was based on ordinary religious activities. The believer explained: "Professing religion does not simply mean silently believing that there is a God. Jehovah's Witnesses ... study the Bible, discuss it with others, and try to live in harmony with what is written in the Bible." In his final statement, he added: "My real motive — love — is directly opposite to enmity and hatred, which means that there is no subjective side of the crime. Consequently, there is no corpus delic

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Ivan Shulyuk in Nazarov May 5 , 2023 Krasnoyarsk Territory From the courtroom Speaking with the last word, the believer emphasizes: "I think it is obvious to all participants in the process from the very beginning that there is no search for my non-existent crime, but conscious discrimination and persecution of me on religious grounds." Transcript of the court session in the Nazarovsky City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory dated 05.05.2023 on the case 1-4/2023 (1-26/2022; 1-365/2021) on the charge of Ivan Mikhailovich Shulyuk of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Shulyuk Ivan Mikhailovich: First of all, I would like to sincerely thank all the participants in the process. Lev Vladimirovich, I have always felt your respectful attitude towards me. A calm and relaxed atmosphere prevailed at all meetings without exception. You allowed me to speak out and always listened carefull

 RUSSIA A Second Appeal in Birobidzhan Upheld the Sentence of the Postnikov Spouses: 4.5 and 5.5 Years of Suspended Term October 24, 2023 Jewish Autonomous Region On October 24, 2023, the court of the Jewish Autonomous Region considered for the second time the complaint of Oleg and Agnessa Postnikov against the conviction for practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. The verdict was left unchanged: Oleg received 5 and a half years of suspended imprisonment, Agnessa — 4 and a half years suspended with a probationary period of 5 years. Appealing against the guilty verdict, the believers drew attention to the fact that instead of establishing specific criminal actions and extremist motives, the court of first instance only revealed their religious affiliation, which they did not hide. Oleg Postnikov noted: "The verdict contradicts the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Criminal Code and the explanations of the Plenum, according to which, after a court decision to l

 RUSSIA Six Years Suspended Sentence for Faith in Jehovah God. A Court in Kemerovo Found Vladimir Baykalov Guilty of Extremism October 24, 2023 Kemerovo Region The court gave Vladimir Baikalov, 60, a 6-year suspended sentence for talking about the Bible with friends. This decision was made on October 23, 2023, by the judge of the Zavodsky District Court of the city of Kemerovo, Marina Romanina. The state prosecutor asked to send the believer to a penal colony for 7 years. "I used to teach people how to beat, and now I teach them to love," said former boxing coach Vladimir Baykalov, emphasizing the absurdity of the accusation. "[Before becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses], I devoted many years to boxing, even though it was not only my favorite job, but also my life's work . . . The Bible taught me to show love to people instead of aggression, and instead of inflicting pain, it [nurtured] a desire and willingness to help. This is the exact opposite of extremism, ha

 RUSSIA The last word of the defendant Vladimir Baykalov in Kemerovo October 23, 2023 Kemerovo region Addressing the court, the believer drew attention to the evidence of his own innocence. "There is not a single fact, witness or record that would confirm my guilt," he said. "On the contrary, all the evidence testifies to my integrity and respect for the authorities and their representatives." Transcript of the court session in the Zavodsky District Court of Kemerovo dated 10/23/2023 in the case 1-82/2023 (1-982/2022) on charges of Vladimir Ivanovich Baykalov of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Baykalov Vladimir Ivanovich: Dear Court, I want to begin my last word with words of gratitude. One wise man compared gratitude to the soil on which everything grows. And I totally agree with that, gratitude is an amazing quality. Only a grateful person can truly love. I thank my God Jehovah for teaching me to be

 RUSSIA  In Urai, Andrei Sazonov was again sentenced to a fine for reading the Bible October 23, 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC On October 23, 2023, the judge of the Uraisk City Court, Igor Pospelov, found 43-year-old Andrei Sazonov guilty of extremism for discussing the Bible. The believer was sentenced to a fine of 450,000 rubles. Two years earlier, the court imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles on Sazonov. The appeal overturned this verdict and returned the case for a new trial. The retrial lasted almost a year and a half. Prosecution witnesses positively characterized Sazonov. It turned out that there were no victims in the case, and religious studies and linguistic examinations did not reveal any extremist statements in the materials studied. The prosecutor requested a penalty of 1,300,000 rubles for the believer. Speaking with the last word, the believer said: "I have not said or done anything that could relate to extremism. Moreover, my respect and faith in God do not even allow me t

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Alexey Eliseev in Snezhnogorsk May 15 , 2023 Murmansk region From the courtroom The believer gave evidence to the court that his faith is "not a rush of emotions, not blind fanaticism, and even more so not extremism." He explained: "The most important thing is that it does not pose a threat to the state, does not undermine the foundations of the constitutional system, but encourages peace, mutual respect and love for one's neighbor." Transcript of the court session in the Polar District Court of the Murmansk Region in Snezhnogorsk dated 05/15/2023 in the case 1-2/2023 (1-79/2022) on charges of Eliseev Alexey Nikolaevich and Ilyasova Juno Alekseevna of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Eliseev Alexey Nikolaevich: Dear Court! So our process is coming to an end. Almost two years have passed since the charges were brought against me. It is difficult to recall many