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 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Vasily Burenescu in Surgut November 10, 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC In his last statement , the defendant stated: "I am not an extremist and never have been and never will be." Drawing attention to the words of the accusation "they are incorrigible," he asked the court: "What should I correct? I have never violated the laws of the Russian Federation, I continue to lead a Christian lifestyle and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ." Transcript of the court session in the Surgut City Court of 10.11.2023 on the case № 1-27/2023 (1-130/2022; 1-1348/2021) on the accusation of Burenescu Vasily Vasilyevich and others . in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2, Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Burenescu Vasily Vasilyevich: Dear Court! Thank you, Your Honor, for your self-control, for a calm and working atmosphere throughout the process, for your understanding and good attitu...

 RUSSIA Searches in the Kuril Islands. A Criminal Case Initiated Against Two Women for Their Faith November 29, 2023 Sakhalin Region On November 23, 2023, on Iturup Island security forces searched the homes of two women who profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. From Olga Kalinnikova, 47, and Larisa Potapova, 59, a written undertaking not to leave was taken. A three-hour search took place in the apartment of Olga Kalinnikova, who lives with her minor daughter in the city of Kurilsk. Operational actions were led by the investigator of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Sakhalin Region K. P. Deshko. Electronic devices, various data storage devices, notebooks and personal records were seized from Kalinnikova. According to her, law enforcement officers spoke rudely about the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. On the same day, at about 9 a.m., representatives of the border service of the FSB of Russia with two witnesses ...

 RUSSIA Case of Skvortsov and others in Taganrog Vladimir Moiseyenko Updated: November 29, 2023 Name: Moiseyenko, Vladimir Pavlovich Date of Birth: October 7, 1970 Current status: convicted person Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (1) Time spent in prison: 398 days in detention center, 99 days in prison Sentence: punishment of 6 years of imprisonment in a general regime correctional colony, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious organizations for a period of 2 years, with restriction of freedom for a period of 1 year Currently held in: Penal Colony No. 3 in Ulyanovsk Region Address for correspondence: Moiseyenko Vladimir Pavlovich, born 1970, IK No. 3 in Ulyanovsk Region, ul. Osipenko, 22, g. Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk Region, Russia, 433510 Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the FSIN-letter system. To pay for letters with a foreign bank card, use the Prisonmail ...

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Igor Kobotov in Surgut November 10, 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC In his last speech, the defendant drew attention to the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are not criminals, but harmless believers. He said: "For all the time while the investigation was going on, then the court, I could not put in my head what exactly my friends and I were guilty of, and I could not find an answer to this question." Transcript of the court session in the Surgut City Court of 10.11.2023 on the case № 1-27/2023 (1-130/2022; 1-1348/2021) on the charges of Kobotov Igor Sergeevich and others . in 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. Kobotov Igor Sergeevich: Why does a woman plant flowers in the country, what is the practical use of this? There is no practical use. Just aesthetics, just beautiful. When do flowers grow best? When they are well cared for. When does a woman get pl...

 RUSSIA Case of Plotnikov and others in Yoshkar-Ola Ilia Buryi Updated: November 28, 2023 Name: Buryi, Ilia Ivanovich Date of Birth: March 15, 1992 Current status: accused Article of the Russian Criminal Code: 282.2 (1) Current restrictions: recognizance agreement Biography In April 2022, the father of his little daughter, Ilia Buryi, a resident of Yoshkar-Ola, became a defendant in a criminal case for his belief in Jehovah God. The persecution of Ilia turned into a tragedy for his family. Worries about their son shattered the health of both parents, and in September 2023, Ilia's mother died. Ilia was born in March 1992 in Nizhny Novgorod. As a child, he loved skating, playing football and volleyball. At various times, in addition to his hometown, he lived in St. Petersburg and Yoshkar-Ola. After school, Ilia studied to be an electrician for the repair and maintenance of equipment. At first, he worked by profession, then he was engaged in cleaning, worked at a car wash, worked at a...

 RUSSIA “Jehovah Will Work Things Out” The Dzerzhinskiy District Court of Yaroslavl will soon announce its verdict in the case involving Brother Anton Kokovin. The prosecutor has yet to request a potential sentence. November 27, 2023 Profile Anton Kokovin Born: 1990 (Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Region) Biography: Works as a communications engineer His mother instilled Bible principles in him from childhood. As a teenager, began to think seriously about life. Baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2009 Personal Comments What helps you maintain your confidence? Jesus prophesied that his followers would be persecuted. So Jehovah knows both what is happening and how to help me. The guidance I receive through his Word and his organization is always exactly what I need to remain faithful. I also think of what is written at Psalm 30:11: “You have changed my mourning into dancing; you have removed my sackcloth, and you clothe me with rejoicing.” There are many things about my situation that ar...

 RUSSIA    The last word of the defendant Viola Shepel in Surgut November 10, 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC The believer in her last word said that she always wanted to help people — that's why she became both a medical worker and a preacher. "If I have to be punished for my faith, then I am ready. After all, no other corpus delicti has been proven in my actions," she added. Transcript of the court session in the Surgut City Court of 10.11.2023 on the case № 1-27/2023 (1-130/2022; 1-1348/2021) on the accusation of Shepel Viola Alexandrovna and others . in committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Shepel Viola Alexandrovna: Dear Court, I would like to express my gratitude to you, Dmitry Anatolyevich, and your irreplaceable assistant, Zhanna Petrovna, for the fact that this difficult, long and tedious process took place in a fairly kind and calm atmosphere. Many thanks to the lawyers for the work done. You had to understand ...

 RUSSIA   The last word of the defendant Alexey Plekhov in Surgut November 9 , 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC In his last word, the believer stressed that he had never had a desire to harm anyone: "I love my country, my city. I love people." Transcript of the court session in the Surgut City Court of Surgut dated 09.11.2023 on the case № 1-27/2023 (1-130/2022; 1-1348/2021) on the accusation of Plekhov Alexey Nikolaevich and others . in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2, Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Plekhov Alexey Nikolaevich: Dear Court and dear State prosecutors! So the very day that we have been waiting for for so long and for which we have been walking so long and hard has come. Thank you, dear court, for being with us until the end. We must pay tribute to the public prosecutors for the patience they have shown over the years, although it was not easy. A lot of material was prepared. I kept thinking: what should I say in ...

 RUSSIA Five Believers From Balakovo Sentenced for Discussing the Bible: Two Got Suspended Sentences, Three Received Fines November 24, 2023 Saratov Region On November 23, 2023, Judge Natalya Nikitinskaya of the Balakovo District Court of the Saratov Region sentenced Jehovah's Witnesses Aleksey Bogatov and Vladimir Mavrin to 6 years of suspended sentence with a probation period of 4 years. Their fellow believers Andrey Murych, Sergey Tyurin and Yevgeny Fomashin, were fined 300,000 rubles. According to law enforcement officers, the believers committed extremist actions, "resuming and organizing the activities of the local religious unit [Jehovah's Witnesses] on the territory of the city of Balakovo, expressed in convening meetings and carrying out preaching activities." The criminal case was initiated in February 2022. A month later, security forces invaded the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses with searches that lasted for several hours and took place in the presence o...

 RUSSIA From Husband to Wife, Father to Son: Security Forces Bring Cases Against Entire Families of Jehovah's Witnesses November 24, 2023 Since 2018, Russian law enforcement officers have increasingly initiated criminal cases, first against one Jehovah's Witness, and then against one of his family members. By the end of November 2023, at least 71 families in 35 regions of the Russian Federation became easy prey for security forces under this scheme. The first such case occurred in Vladivostok, when Dmitriy Barmakin was arrested. His wife Yelena was first released, threatening that she "will be next" and "will go under arrest after her husband." And so it happened: 11 months later, for her faith in God, Yelena became a defendant in a separate criminal case. Over time, the consistent persecution of relatives developed into a trend. Criminal "conveyor" In most cases, investigators take as a basis the wording from the Criminal Code of the Russian Feder...

 RUSSIA   The last word of the defendant Artem Kim in Surgut November 9 , 2023 Khanty-Mansiysk JSC Speaking with the last word, the defendant said that he does not hold a grudge against those who tortured him during the interrogation. He added: "I want to believe that if at least someone has a good impression of us as Jehovah's Witnesses... then surely this whole trial has not been in vain." Transcript of the court session in the Surgut City Court of 09.11.2023 on the case № 1-27/2023 (1-130/2022; 1-1348/2021) on the charges of Kim Artem Stanislavovich and others . in committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2, Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Kim Artem Stanislavovich: Dear court, I am being tried for being a believer and professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as for sharing and discussing thoughts from the Bible with citizen Mironov Alexey Evgenievich. I would like to find out if there is at least somethin...

 RUSSIA  The appeal overturned the acquittal of Jehovah's Witnesses from Yugorsk.  The case of Sorokin and Zhukov will be considered again  November 22, 2023 Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug  On November 20, 2023, the court of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra upheld the prosecutor’s appeal and overturned the acquittal in the case of Ivan Sorokin and Andrei Zhukov.  In August 2023, the judge of the Yugorsky District Court of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra, Yuri Klyupa, came to the conclusion that, by professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, the believers did not violate the law, and issued an acquittal in their case.  According to Andrei Zhukov, the first trial, which lasted 1 year and 9 months, “helped many understand that he and his fellow believers are peaceful citizens.”  Then both believers accused of extremism were acquitted.  However, the prosecutor did not agree with this decision and appealed it.  The ca...

 RUSSIA  Searches of Jehovah's Witnesses took place in Saratov.  Two believers under house arrest  November 22, 2023 Saratov region  On November 16, 2023, searches were carried out at at least 6 addresses in Saratov.  They affected at least 13 believers.  47-year-old Alexey Vasilyev and 59-year-old Alexey Efremov were placed in a temporary detention facility, and a day later they were placed under house arrest.  Investigative actions were authorized by the Volzhsky District Court of Saratov on November 9, 2023, at the request of investigator Bulat Urazov.  The raids began around 6 a.m. and lasted until midday on average.  Security forces seized electronic devices, storage media, personal notes and postcards.  The passport of a Russian citizen was also confiscated from one of the believers.  After the searches, all believers were interrogated at the local office of the Investigative Committee.  Among them are a disabled wom...

 RUSSIA The appeal approved suspended sentences for three women from the Amur region, removing some of the additional restrictions November 22 , 2023 Amur region On November 21, 2023, the judicial board of the Amur Regional Court approved the verdict of the first instance to Margarita Moiseenko, Elena Yatsyk, iGalina Yatsyk, excluding from it an additional punishment in the form of deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to participation in the work of public organizations. In September 2023, the Zeysky District Court of the Amur Region sentenced Margarita Moiseenko to 3 years of probation, Elena Yatsyk to 2.5, and Galina Yatsyk to 2 years of probation, finding them guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist organization. Margarita Moiseenko is one of three Zei residents convicted for their faith. Her husband Vladimir was also previously convicted as a Jehovah's Witness. November 2023 Believers still insist on their complete innocence and can appeal ...