The appeal overturned the acquittal of Jehovah's Witnesses from Yugorsk. The case of Sorokin and Zhukov will be considered again

 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 case of the two believers has been sent for retrial to the court of first instance.


 The case of Sorokin and Zhukov in Yugorsk


 Brief history of the case


 In August 2020, in the cities of Yugorsk and Sovetsky, searches were carried out at 9 addresses of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 16 people were taken away for interrogation.  The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against Andrei Zhukov and Ivan Sorokin for organizing the activities of an extremist organization due to conversations about the Bible with friends.  The believers were placed in a temporary detention facility, and the next day they were released on their own recognizance.  A few months later, their accounts were blocked, which became a serious difficulty for the Zhukov family in connection with the birth of their second child.  In August 2021, Zhukov and Sorokin were also charged with involvement in the activities of an extremist organization.  The case came to court in October of the same year.  Prosecution witnesses invited to the hearing stated that the defendants are peace-loving people, and they did not hear calls for illegal actions from believers.  In August 2023, the court completely acquitted Zhukov and Sorokin.  After 3 months, the appeal overturned the verdict and sent the case for a new trial.


 Case Summary


 Region:

 Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

 Locality:

 Yugorsk

 What is suspected:

 “Developed the basic plans of a local religious organization... held conspiratorial meetings of members of an extremist organization for the purpose of conducting religious rituals and sermons” (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)

 Criminal case number:

 12002711023058534

 Case initiated:

 August 17, 2020

 Current stage of the case:

 trial before the court of first instance

 Investigates:

 Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra

 Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

 282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)

 Court case number:

 1-2/2023 (1-14/2022; 1-149/2021)

 Court:

 Yugorsky District Court of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra

 Judge:

 Yuri Klyupa

Comentarios

Publicar un comentario

Entradas populares de este blog

In Petrozavodsk, One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Arrested After a Search

 RUSSIA  In Petrozavodsk, One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Arrested After a Search July 2, 2024 Karelia On June 21, 2024, the judge of the Petrozavodsk City Court, Natalya Zalevskaya, sent Sergey Fedorov, 50, to the pre-trial detention center. The day before, the believer was searched. Back in March 2024, law enforcement officers first came to the Fedorov spouses in the city of Tolyatti, where they then lived, with an inspection order. The apartment of the believers was invaded by 9 people without identifying themselves. The spouses were taken to different rooms, Fedorov was handcuffed and hit on the head. Then 8 people dispersed around the apartment, one stayed with Sergei, holding him on the floor on his knees with his hands clasped behind his back, raised high. The Fedorovs were not informed of their rights, nor were they allowed to make a phone call to their relatives. During the 4-hour "inspection", the law enforcement officers, according to believers, planted several ...
Leer más

The Appeal in Samara Upheld the Harsh Sentence of One of Jehovah's Witnesses—Eight Years in a Penal Colony

 RUSSIA  The Appeal in Samara Upheld the Harsh Sentence of One of Jehovah's Witnesses—Eight Years in a Penal Colony May 21, 2024 Samara Region On May 16, 2024, by the decision of the judicial board of the Samara Regional Court, the sentence to Aleksandr Chagan, 53, entered into force. He became the sixth in the list of Jehovah's Witnesses who were sent to a penal colony for such a long time by Russian courts. "In my case, Christian values and Christian qualities were estimated at 8 years in a penal colony," the believer commented on this occasion. In his last speech, Chagan told the court of appeal that he has been living according to biblical standards for more than 20 years, and this has changed his life only for the better: "There is no reason to accuse someone who learns to show love for people and respect for their opinions, their life position of inciting hatred and enmity." The believer intends to appeal the verdict and the decision of the appellate i...
Leer más

Conscientious objector's 6 months in military detention

 KAZAKHSTAN Conscientious objector's 6 months in military detention 24 May 2024 In autumn 2022, Jehovah's Witness Daniil Smal presented the Conscription Office a certificate from the Jehovah's Witness Centre that he is a "religious minister". This should have exempted him from conscription. He was summoned on 17 May 2023, and forcibly transferred to a military unit. He was freed only in November 2023 when Almaty Military Garrison Court ruled his conscription illegal. The Military Court rejected the military's appeal in April 2024. Smal's conscientious objection "may lead to mass negative consequences and wide public resonance", the military claimed. Jehovah's Witness Daniil Smal spent from 17 May 2023 in detention in a military unit until Almaty Military Garrison Court ruled on 9 November 2023 that the call-up decision in his case should be revoked and he should be freed. On 16 April 2024, the Military Court rejected the Conscription Office...
Leer más