The last word of the defendant Ivan Shulyuk in Nazarov

 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 carefully. Thank you for that. You took into account my legal illiteracy and tactfully corrected me when it was necessary. During the restrictive measures, you, as an exception, allowed my wife to attend the meetings. It was very important to me.

Thanks to my lawyers: Bayzanat Selmurzaevna and Maxim Petrovich, who delved into the essence of the case and provided reliable protection. Thank you also to Anna Vladimirovna Zeer, she was my defender at the very beginning.

On the part of the prosecution, Olga Vyacheslavovna was most often present, thanks to her for her friendly and kind attitude. She always pronounced the name Jehovah correctly. She had a hard time during the reading of the case materials, when we were all wearing masks. I also thank other prosecutors for their humane attitude.

Thank you to the secretaries for their hard work and explanation of current issues. The bailiffs were the first people I met at the entrance to the building, and the last ones I saw when I left, and they were always friendly. I hope you can somehow convey your gratitude to them, too.

To my wife, Yulia, thank you for being always there, for your help and support during the whole process. Thank you!

Since I am a believer, I am especially grateful to my God Jehovah for his laws, love and power that he gives. I couldn't have done it without him.

I also thank my relatives and my co-religionists for the love, help and support they provided to our family during this entire period of criminal prosecution. For always coming to the courthouse to support me. For their kind and necessary words. Even just acquaintances were constantly interested in how I was doing, worried, sympathized. Thanks also to them.

I titled my last word: "Who am I?"

So, who am I? Some consider me just a religious person who is judged for his beliefs. Others think I'm an extremist. There are also those who do not really delve into the essence of what is happening. And yet this process is unusual for everyone who has come into contact with it. And soon everyone will be convinced that in reality I am not a criminal, and this criminal case will go down in history.

Am I a believer? Yes. I am a Christian, a follower of the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. Is it forbidden to be a Jehovah's Witness? No. Specific legal entities are prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation — 395 local religious organizations (mPOS) and the Management Center of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is not forbidden for Jehovah's Witnesses to gather in groups.

At the trial , we repeatedly talked about the 28 art. Constitution of the Russian Federation. Do I fall under the scope of this article? Undoubtedly. It is not said that freedom of speech and religion are allowed to everyone except XI. I am sure that the Constitution has the highest legal force, which means that other laws should not contradict it.

Your Honor, we have been investigating the case materials for a long time, and I want to draw your attention to the fact that there are no concrete facts and evidence of my guilt in the materials. I have never been a member of the MRO of Nazarovo and have not resumed the activities of this MRO, which has already been liquidated at the moment. Is it my fault that the prosecution does not understand the difference between the MRO and a group of believers? But it is good that we have been thoroughly investigating everything here since October 2021. They were sorting out what groups of believers, MRO and even ZRO are, as one of the prosecution witnesses put it.

I am being tried for my faith, not for some crime. Would a case have been opened if I had professed a different creed? No. I think it is obvious to all participants of 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.

So, who am I? Shulyuk Ivan Mikhailovich, born in 1976. He was born in the city of Nazarov, in a family of workers. There are two older brothers. My father died when I was 11, my mother when I was 14. My older brother Nikolai was my guardian (thanks to him for that). As a teenager, I did not commit any offenses, I was not registered in the police room. I am sure that observing the laws of God has always protected me and is beneficial now.

I studied at school No. 12, after the 9th grade I entered the Nazarov Power Engineering College. I received a diploma in mechanical engineering, and since 1996 to the present day I have been working in the housing and communal services sector as a plumber of the 5th category, I have been married for 21 years.

On the maternal side, my grandparents and their four children, including my mother, were Jehovah's Witnesses. On April 8, 1951, during the infamous operation "North", the grandmother and her children were sent into exile to the so-called eternal settlement in Siberia. The soldiers broke into their house at night, they were given a couple of hours to gather. My family left everything: houses, household. For more than two weeks they, as well as thousands of other Jehovah's Witnesses, were transported in cold cattle cars. My mother and grandmother were taken away several thousand kilometers from home and dropped off at the Ius station, in Khakassia. They were rehabilitated in 1991, 40 years after their expulsion.

There is a 27-volume publication "Rehabilitated by History", which contains archival information on Ukraine and Russia about persons who somehow suffered from political repression during the USSR — they were exiled, sentenced to a long term, sentenced to death or suffered in some other way, and were later rehabilitated. In the 4th volume, on pages 531 and 532, in the list of victims of political repression of the totalitarian regime, there is information about my mother, grandfather and grandmother, as well as about my other relatives.

In 1941, my grandfather, a Jehovah's Witness, was arrested for his faith and sent to a military prison in Novosibirsk, where in 1942 he was shot and buried in a common grave. He was rehabilitated posthumously on January 31, 1997.

Upon my request, the archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the city of Lviv kindly sent me an official written response confirming the expulsion of my relatives from Western Ukraine in 1951. At that time, the authorities in the USSR called Jehovah's Witnesses "members of the Jehovah's sect," and, according to the documents, my relatives were expelled solely on religious grounds. After rehabilitating them, the authorities confirmed that they were wrong at the time. Why repeat history?

However, the mass expulsion brought benefits. Thanks to this, groups of believers appeared in our city. Jehovah's Witnesses have been known in Russia for more than 100 years, in Nazarov — since the 1950s, that is, for more than 70 years. Someone said, "The harder you blow on a dandelion, the further it flies."

My relatives could give up their religious affiliation and stay in their home. But none of them did. They had firm convictions, and it was unthinkable for them to renounce their faith. I am very proud of my loved ones, their steadfastness, loyalty and devotion. This is my spiritual heritage.

Their attitude has also shaped my attitude to the current situation. This is my way, and it suits me completely. My faith and beliefs cannot be associated with the activities of the MRO of the city of Nazarovo. It appeared in the 1990s, and in 2017 ceased to exist. And I believed before she appeared, and I believe now.

Many residents of our city know me as a housing and utilities worker, a plumber. The scope of my activity is such that for more than 25 years I have been visiting tenants' apartments almost daily by request. I already know many of them personally, and they know me. Most of them know my religious beliefs. Shortly before my arrest, I serviced the apartments of some tenants, who, as I learned later, turned out to be employees of the investigative department, the prosecutor's office and the court of our city. And none of them were afraid to let me into the apartment, fearing for their lives. Because I'm not a criminal!

Why do I believe that the name of God is Jehovah? This was the decisive argument in the accusation brought against me, so I will briefly dwell on this. Jehovah is the name of our Creator. It is mentioned in the Bible, in the Synodal translation, 9 times. For example, in the book of Exodus, the 15th chapter, the 3rd verse, it says: "The Lord... Jehovah is his name." (All quotations here and further are from the Synodal Translation.)

In other translations of the Bible, this name is much more common. [...] And it is not on the list of extremist materials. The prosecution has not given any reason why I cannot use this name. After all, this is the name of our heavenly Father. The well-known prayer "Our Father" sounds like this: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (or may it become holy)" (Matthew 6:9).

In films, songs, books, on coins, coats of arms, buildings, this name has been used for many centuries and even millennia. It is unclear why the name Jehovah became the basis for the seizure of some items from me during the search. If someone doesn't like the name Jehovah, it doesn't mean that I can't use it. For me it is valuable and sacred. And I am very glad that I have a heavenly Father with that name. The famous thought of the writer and playwright Bernard Shaw, which has become an aphorism, sounds like this: "Jehovah, having created the world, said that it was good. What would he say now?"

Why did I attend the meetings of believers? Article 31 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation states: "Citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, to hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations." In the light of this article, I can safely gather with my co-religionists and discuss the Bible. In the Epistle to the Hebrews, the 10th chapter, the 24th and 25th verses, it says: "Let us not forsake our assembly." That is, it is necessary to communicate and worship God together. At the divine services, I expressed my faith by deeds.

Reading out the case materials and listening to audio recordings showed that the services were held peacefully, no calls to undermine the foundations of the constitutional order were ever uttered. The conversations were only on spiritual topics: about strengthening relations with Jehovah God, with people. There were no swear words, curses. This is proof that those gathered are people who adhere to high moral and ethical standards. No pickets, rallies, marches were held, I did not encourage anyone to extremist actions, I did not distribute any extremist literature.

Why am I talking about my faith? Since my youth, I have been sharing my beliefs, acting in accordance with the words of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, verses 19, 20: "Go, teach all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Why is it useful for others? Would you be happy if a neighbor warned you that there would be a shutdown of cold water? Would you consider it an imposition or an insult? On the contrary, you would be very happy. So did I: after learning the answers to some important questions, I wanted to share it with others. For example, answers to such questions: why so much suffering? why are we sick? how soon will things change for the better? As in the example with water, a person decides for himself whether to stock up on water or not, so here: to listen or not, to accept or not is a personal matter for everyone.

Strangely enough, the preliminary investigation authorities unexpectedly took part in reminding a wide range of people about Jehovah's Witnesses. They were repeatedly recalled and talked about in the investigative department of the city of Nazarovo, in the district prosecutor's office, the court, the IVS, the Achinsk pre-trial detention center, and also at my work. From the media, residents of the city, as well as residents of the houses where I work, my neighbors, all heard that there were searches and one of Jehovah's Witnesses was detained. Many, by the way, were perplexed.

There is information in the case file that requests were sent to Moscow, Magadan, Sharypovo, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Uzhur, Bogotol, Omsk and other cities in this criminal case. Those who processed or prepared documents on them could begin to reflect on who the Witnesses were, to remember what they had once talked to them about. And, perhaps, there were those who had not heard of Jehovah's Witnesses and now wanted to figure out who they were, and later shared what they learned with relatives and friends. Yes, the harder you blow on a dandelion, the further it flies.

How long would it take me alone to tell so many people that there are Jehovah's Witnesses, that they have certain beliefs? And the investigation reminded a lot of people about them. Yes, I could not imagine that one day I would be here, in court, in front of you, Lev Vladimirovich, and I would talk about my faith.

How does the Bible affect my life? I try to apply the words of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7, verse 12: "In all things, as you want people to do to you, so do you to them." I live quietly, I don't conflict with anyone. I have positive characteristics from work, from neighbors, residents of the houses where I work. I have been repeatedly awarded with diplomas from my company, the authorities of the city and the region.

Until 2017, my friends and I repeatedly participated in the cleaning of the city at the request of the city authorities. If Jehovah's Witnesses were extremists, the authorities would hardly have invited them to a clean-up. I'm not an ideal person, I have my flaws, but I'm definitely not an extremist.

Who is actually harmed? There are victims in this unfair criminal prosecution: this is me and my wife, who shares with me all the hardships of the investigation and trial. Our physical and emotional state has been damaged. I was subjected to a degrading search procedure, detention and imprisonment in a pre-trial detention center. I was repeatedly transported in the heat in a so-called glass, held and moved in handcuffs, although I do not pose any threat to society, kept in a cage during a court hearing. All this testifies to the inhumane treatment of me. The data about me is included in the list of Rosfinmonitoring, and I was among those involved in terrorism and extremism, which is an outrageous injustice! My being on this list defames my name and causes a lot of difficulties: actions with my passport are limited, my account is blocked, I could not even issue a power of attorney with a notary concerning medical treatment and receiving mail.

My hope. I am sure that one day everything will end well. I really liked the words of one of the authorities. I read them in a story about my co-religionist, who was persecuted for his faith during the USSR. So, the warden of the prison where he was, told him: "You're a lucky man. If I were convinced that what is written in the Bible is true, then I would be ready not to be in prison for 3 or 5 years, but to stand on one leg in prison for 60 years." Then he paused, thought about it and continued: "After all, this is eternal life. Can you imagine what eternal life is?" These words really encouraged me. Indeed, compared to the eternity that opens up before me, this criminal prosecution is only a small fraction of the time of my life.

However, if we talk about my time spent on defense during the criminal prosecution, it was very expensive! Investigative actions took place more than 20 times, attendance for familiarization with the case — more than 40 times, substantive meetings — more than 20 times, other meetings -15 times. But this is several hundred hours of my life! I spent a huge amount of time familiarizing myself with the case materials and the prosecution, participating in investigative actions, preparing for court sessions and attending them. Sometimes it was just exhausting. I was called to get acquainted with the case materials even on weekends!

Investigators of the investigative department, prosecutors, lawyers, a secretary, a judge, an assistant judge — all of them also spent hundreds of hours to conduct my case. Usually, the purpose of a multi-hour criminal investigation is the suppression of criminal activity. And here there is absolutely no corpus delicti!

All of us who are involved in this case could spend these hundreds of hours on ourselves and our family, on good deeds for our relatives and friends. How many useful things I could not do simply because I had to go to the investigative department and to the court or prepare for court sessions! And now the prosecution has asked for a punishment of 6 years and 2 months in a penal colony of general regime. For what? For the fact that I adhere to high standards and behavior? What should I correct myself in?

I am often asked: "Why exactly are you being persecuted, who have you displeased?" I always say, "I don't know." But I know for sure that my God Jehovah approves of me, who knows who I am and that I am not a criminal. I am not particularly surprised that I and some of my co-religionists are being persecuted. A warning about this was recorded 2,000 years ago: "[People] will deliver you to the courts ... will lead you to rulers and kings" (Matthew 10:17, 18).

Once our family had a chance to go on an excursion to the former Auschwitz concentration camp (Auschwitz). The guide talked about different groups of prisoners, including Jehovah's Witnesses. They had a patch in the form of a purple triangle. So, only they of all the prisoners could be released by signing the document "Renunciation of faith". But only a few signed. Many Jehovah's Witnesses were eventually destroyed by the Nazis in gas chambers, tortured and experimented on, died of hunger, disease and cold, but nevertheless did not give up their beliefs. This is a historical fact. After I saw all this with my own eyes, I realized even better that when there are firm beliefs and hope in our God, even death is not terrible.

Each of us is responsible for the decisions he makes. The Bible says: "Each of us will give an account to God for himself." And I firmly decided for myself to remain true to my beliefs based on the Bible.

In my attitude to the accusation, I said that I do not understand what I am accused of and how it relates to me. And now, after the whole process, I am even more convinced that the accusations are groundless. At the very first meeting, you said that the prosecution must, must prove my guilt. And this did not happen, since there is no evidence of guilt and there cannot be.

Your Honor, dear Lev Vladimirovich! Yes, I am a little worried, waiting for what your decision will be, but the most important thing for me is who I am in the eyes of my God Jehovah. And he knows exactly who I am. You, too, will soon have to announce who I am in your eyes. My conscience is clear before the law, before God and people. I am sure that thanks to your knowledge of the laws, experience and open—mindedness, you will make a fair decision - to acquit me.

Please add my word to the case materials.

 Case Summary

 Region:

 Krasnoyarsk region

 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

 Case initiated:

 June 17, 2020

 Current stage of the case:

 The verdict came into force

 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