Andrey Sazonov's last word in the Urals

 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 investigation of all the evidence, and also ensured the adversarial nature of the parties. I defended myself on my own, but you did not interrupt me, listened attentively and gave an assessment of my arguments. Regardless of what the verdict will be, I am grateful for the way you conducted this process and for your humane attitude towards me as a defendant.

Thanks to the secretary Olesya Sergeevna for her positive attitude, tact and politeness. It was nice to see how well you are doing with the paperwork. You always have order in the workplace and everything is in its place. You gave me all the necessary documents in a timely manner, even sometimes sacrificing your lunch.

I would also like to thank Deputy Prosecutor Pavel Petrovich. This is the second time we have been opponents in the trial of this criminal case, but you do not disrespect me. It is clear that you are a well-mannered, tactful person and know how to choose words without allowing yourself to speak sarcastically to opponents.

I will not ignore my closest people — my wife Victoria and children Irina and Slava. It was a difficult time for our family: my detention, house arrest and incessant trials became a huge stress, but my loved ones have always been and remain my reliable rear. The trials that befell our family did not break us, on the contrary, they revealed in each of us qualities for which we began to appreciate each other even more.

And, of course, I want to express my great gratitude to all those who are not in this hall — relatives and friends. Despite the long distances and other circumstances, they were always there, supporting me and my family during this difficult time. I am grateful to them for their time, kind words, signs of attention, financial support and prayers.

I also had a support group at every meeting. These people knew that the sessions would be closed and they would not be allowed into the courtroom, but they came to the courthouse before the meeting, cheered me on, waited for several hours. During the entire trial, they could watch the seasons change and feel all the charms of the weather. But that didn't stop them, and they always remained a support for me. Therefore, I want to say a special thank you to these people for their steadfastness and dedication.

While this trial was going on, I heard this expression: "A lie can go halfway around the world while the truth is waking up." And this immediately reminded me of all the twists and turns of my criminal case.

I've been living in this city for 21 years, I've never hidden from anyone, I've always been in plain sight, I've been doing useful work for society, one might say, even vital for the residents of the city, because we have nowhere without heat in the north. For more than 25 years from the moment I became a Jehovah's Witness, I have always been law-abiding, and without changing anything in my life, in my views and behavior, at one moment I became a criminal, and even especially dangerous.

When it all started — the searches, the detention — everything was beautifully shown on central television: how special forces stormed a three-storey castle with the help of firefighters, although I have only two floors in my house. But how beautiful it sounds — "a three-story castle". But in fact, there was no assault at all. They set fire to a metal fence with a combustible mixture, thus ruining the property, then allegedly came to extinguish it, climbed over the fence and did not know what to do next. And only after that they began to say that we would have a search. But as soon as the documents were shown, I went down and calmly opened the door myself. And where is the "assault", where is the "three-story castle"? In a report on television, they said that the operatives were thoroughly searching everything, even looking into a tube of glue. But in fact, it was the investigator's glue, which dried up, and the investigator had to pick the tube's spout with a needle to then glue the tag to the bag with the seized items.

I don't think anyone here would want to be in this situation. And even more so that his children would face it. But our family went through it twice, and no one got angry. So in my case, the lie began to spread around the world. How easy it was to denigrate a person.

Most often, people's perception of Jehovah's Witnesses is based on someone's words, personal hostility, information in the media, and sometimes outright lies. So this criminal case also appeared. But now, Your Honor and respected state Prosecutor, you could personally see and hear how believers who call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses, including me, live and worship God. I am accused of inciting religious hatred, inciting the rupture of kinship and family relations, non—recognition of state authorities and local self-government bodies - but in fact, witness testimony and expert opinions and other materials say the opposite.

In the Bible, in the 1st Epistle of Peter, the 2nd chapter, the 12th verse, an appeal to Christians is written: "Behave with dignity among other people, so that those who accuse you of evil deeds will see your good deeds and glorify God on the day when he will check." I lead a peaceful lifestyle, respect the authorities and observe the law, because I am a believer. The manifestation of hatred, hostility and violence is incompatible with my views. I respect representatives of other religions and nationalities. And these are not words, but concrete cases, which are visible from everything that was investigated during the court sessions. The same was told about me by the witnesses interviewed in court. Why is this important to me? In the Bible, in the Book of Proverbs, the 22nd chapter, the 1st verse, it says: "A good name is better than a lot of wealth." Here, a name means a reputation that can best tell about a person.

I am sorry that you, Your Honor, and other participants in the trial had to listen to various dirt about Jehovah's Witnesses from those who have some personal grievances. But, having understood all this, it was possible to see what is true. This case against me has been considered in court for more than a year, and if we take all the above-mentioned events, then it has been almost five years. You have delved into the matter, and it may have already become obvious to you that I have not said or done anything that could relate to extremism. Moreover, my respect and faith in God do not even allow me to think about something like this.

For me, using life for its intended purpose means serving the one who gave this life, the only living God whose name is Jehovah. Serving God does not mean becoming a hermit or giving up everything, no. It means trying to live in a way that is pleasing to God and taking his opinion into account in the decisions that I make.

Once, when the Apostle Paul was judged in the same way, King Agrippa said to him: "A little more and you will convince me to become a Christian." To which Paul replied to the tsar: "I pray to God that sooner or later not only you, but everyone who listens to me today, will become the same as me, only without these chains." I do not know why my case is being considered for so long, but I will be glad if it allows you to see that I and my co-religionists are not at all what some people want us to be, but those who peacefully profess their religion. To understand deception, it is better not to collect gossip from the Internet or from other sources, but to listen to the person himself, to understand his essence, to understand what he believes and why he does so.

This trial is coming to an end, and I would really like that, as it was said in that aphorism, despite the lies that "have already traveled half the world", by this time "the truth has woken up."

I hope that during the court sessions, as well as an impartial study of the materials of the criminal case, you were able to make sure that I am not an extremist, that I am not dangerous to society and did not commit the serious crimes of which I was accused. Therefore, Your Honor, I ask you to make a fair decision and fully acquit me.

I ask you to attach my last word to the materials of the criminal case.

Summary of the case

Region:

Khanty-Mansiysk JSC

Locality:

Uray

What is suspected of:

Religious affiliation is interpreted as "Organization and participation in the activities of an extremist organization" (with reference to the court decision on the liquidation of the local organization of Jehovah's Witnesses)

Criminal case number:

11902711001000310

Initiated:

January 31, 2019

The current stage of the case:

Appeal

Is being investigated by:

SO SU of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)

Case number in court:

1-6/2023 (1-128/2022; 1-7/2021; 1-83/2020)

Court:

Uraisk City Court of KhMAO-Yugra

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Igor Pospelov