In Oryol, Three Believers Were Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Discussing the Bible

 RUSSIA


In Oryol, Three Believers Were Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Discussing the Bible

October 13, 2023 Oryol Region


On October 13, 2023, Judge Natalya Tishkova of the Sovetskiy District Court of the city of Oryol sentenced Vladimir Piskarev, Vladimir Melnik, Artur Putintsev to 6 years in a general regime colony and 1.5 years of restricted freedom after their release from prison.


The criminal prosecution of believers began back in December 2020, when the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Oryol Region opened a case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The next day, their homes were searched. After that, all three ended up behind bars. The believers spent more than 2 years and 9 months in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in the Oryol region. The investigation lasted just over a year. During this time, the believers were also charged with organizing the activities of an extremist organization. The case has been pending in court since January 2022.


"Neither I, nor Piskarev, nor Putintsev have ever carried out extremist activities," said Vladimir Melnik, speaking with the last word: we professed the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, including meeting and discussing our beliefs with fellow believers. The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed to the courts of appeal and cassation.


Vladimir Piskarev has already suffered two hypertensive crises and a stroke in the pre-trial detention center. At the same time, he did not receive proper medical care. Doctors also diagnosed him with coronary artery disease. Despite this, the court repeatedly extended his detention. As Tatyana, Vladimir's wife, said, prayer, the help of friends, as well as "the example of fellow believers when they were exiled to Siberia" for their faith help them to survive adversity with dignity.


Artur Putintsev, while in detention, was shocked knowing that his younger brother died. In addition, Artur was not given the necessary medications, and also was not provided with dental treatment. Lyudmila, Artur's wife, says: "Artur likes to write about positive things in his letters and sees the [heavenly] Father's care. He becomes more and more courageous, retains joy. Reading the Bible also gives him a lot of support."


Since 2009, the Oryol Region has been experiencing pressure, threats, and provocations by the FSB against local Jehovah's Witnesses. Over the past six years, fivecriminal cases have been initiated in the region, including against Danish citizen Dennis Christensen.


Case of Piskarev and others in Orel


Brief history of the case


Since 2009, Vladimir Melnik, a father of many children from Orel, has recorded facts of pressure, threats and provocations from the FSB. In December 2020, it was invaded by armed security forces. Vladimir Piskarev and Artur Putintsev were also detained. The believers were placed in a pre-trial detention center, and their names were included in the Rosfinmonitoring list. In January 2022, the case went to trial. The defense unsuccessfully sought a change in territorial jurisdiction because of an article on the website of the Oryol Regional Court, which gave a negative assessment of Jehovah's Witnesses in general. In October 2023, the court sentenced three believers to 6 years in a general regime colony.


Criminal case


Region:

Oryol Region

Locality:

Oryol

Criminal case number:

12002540005000065

Initiated:

December 8, 2020

Current stage of the case:

Trial in appellate court

Investigates:

Investigative Department for the Sovetsky District of Orel Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Oryol Region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-16/2023 (1-123/2022)

Court:

Sovetsky District Court of Orel

Judge of the trial court:

Natalia Tishkova


In the photo: Vladimir Piskarev, Vladimir Melnik and Artur Putintsev in a cage during a court hearing. November 2022.

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