The appeal approved suspended sentences for three women from the Amur region, removing some of the additional restrictions

 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 this decision in cassation. "The verdict is based only on the fact that I am a Jehovah's Witness. I was convicted because I believe in God and use the right guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation," Margarita Moiseenko said at the appeal hearing.


Margarita's lawyer called the sentence illegal and subject to cancellation: "I believe that a judicial error was made due to an incorrect assessment of my client's domestic behavior in exercising her religious beliefs as criminal actions, which led to her conviction and the imposition of an unfairly harsh punishment… The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation notes that a guilty verdict must be decided on reliable evidence."


Margarita added: "The Court did not find in my actions such motivating reasons for behavior as political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity."


The case of Margarita Moiseenko et al. in Zee


Brief case history


In October 2020, searches were conducted in 8 houses of Jehovah's Witnesses, which were supervised by the FSB. In November 2021, a criminal case was opened against Margarita Moiseenko, whose husband Konstantin was sentenced to 6 years probation for believing in Jehovah God, Galina Yatsik and Elena Yatsyk for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The women were taken on their own recognizance not to leave. In March 2023, their case went to court. The prosecutor requested 2.5 to 3 years of penal colony for women. In September, the court sentenced them to suspended sentences: Margarita Moiseenko to three years, Elena Yatsyk to two and a half, and Galina Yatsyk to two years. In November, an appeal approved the verdict, excluding from it a ban on holding certain positions.


Summary of the case


Region:

Amur region

Locality:

Zea

What is suspected:

According to the investigation, "realizing that by their actions they undermine the foundations of the constitutional order and the security of the state ... they directly participated in ... religious events."

Criminal case number:

12107100001000049

Initiated:

November 22, 2021

Current stage of the case:

the verdict has entered into force

Investigates:

WITH the FSB of Russia in the Amur region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Case number in court:

1-62/2023

Court of First Instance:

Zeysky District Court of the Amur region

Judge of the Court of First instance:

Ivan Moiseenko


In the photo: Galina Yatsik, Margarita Moiseenko and Elena Yatsyk near the Zeysky district Court. September 2023

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