The Appeal Upholds Fines for Three Jehovah's Witnesses From Solikamsk

 RUSSIA


The Appeal Upholds Fines for Three Jehovah's Witnesses From Solikamsk

November 17, 2023 Perm Territory


On November 16, 2023, the Judicial Collegium of the Perm Territory Court approved the main part of the verdict against Vladimir Poltoradnev, Vladimir Timoshkin and Aleksandr Sobyanin. Believers will have to pay fines ranging from 494,000 rubles to 638,000 rubles. At the same time, the court overturned the decision to collect lawyer's fees from them and lifted the arrest from Sobyanin's car.


In August 2023, the court found the believers guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist organization for participating in religious meetings and "discussing with followers of [the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses] issues and topics of a religious nature."


In appeals against the verdict, those convicted for their faith drew attention to the fact that all their actions were completely peaceful and that they did not do anything related to extremism. "The court considered the usual doctrinal practice of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses not prohibited by law (gathering together for worship to God, singing religious songs, turning to God in prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures and unprohibited religious publications, carrying out preaching activities, etc.) prohibited activities, which contradicts the provisions of Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation," Vladimir Poltoradnev said in his complaint.


The believers drew the court's attention to the fact that according to to the appellate ruling of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of June 17, 2017, adopted in the case of the liquidation of legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses, "the court of first instance did not assess the legality of the religious beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses and the ways in which they were expressed," but only assessed the actions of specific legal entities. "Recognition of a legal entity as extremist is not tantamount to imposing a ban on a religious denomination with its inherent beliefs, spiritual terminology, the order of worship," says one of the complaints of believers.


Vladimir Poltoradnev, Vladimir Timoshkin and Aleksandr Sobyanin still insist on their innocence and can appeal the decisions of the courts in cassation.


Case of Poltoradnev and others in Solikamsk


Brief history of the case


In July 2020, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Perm Territory opened a criminal case against Vladimir Poltoradnev, Alexander Sobyanin and Vladimir Timoshkin from Solikamsk. By that time, law enforcement officers had been monitoring them for a long time. After searches and interrogations, three believers ended up in a temporary detention facility. Then Sobyanin was released under a ban on certain actions, and Poltoradnev and Timoshkin were released under house arrest for 2 and 3 months, respectively. Later, the measure of restraint against the latter was also changed to prohibit certain actions. After the investigation was repeatedly suspended and resumed, the case went to court in April 2023. Already in August, the judge found the believers guilty and fined: Alexander Sobyanin 494 thousand rubles, Vladimir Poltoradnev 638 thousand rubles and Vladimir Timoshkin 512 thousand rubles. An appeal in November 2023 confirmed the main part of the sentence, slightly reducing the additional punishment.


Criminal case


Region:

Perm Territory

Locality:

Solikamsk

What is suspected:

“directly participated in religious meetings... discussed issues and topics of a religious nature with followers” (from the decision to bring him as an accused)

Criminal case number:

12002570024000055

Initiated:

July 27, 2020

Current stage of the case:

verdict took effect

Investigates:

Investigative Department for Solikamsk Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Perm Territory

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-180/2023

Court of First Instance:

Solikamsk City Court of Perm Territory

Judge of the trial court:

Evgeniy Sergeev


In the photo: Aleksandr Sobyanin, Vladimir Poltoradnev and Vladimir Timoshkin with a supporting group near the courthouse. November, 2023.

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