The last word of the defendant Evgeny Bushev in Chelyabinsk

 Russia

The last word of the defendant Evgeny Bushev in Chelyabinsk

November 3 , 2023

Chelyabinsk region

In his last word, the believer explained what prompted him to tell the residents of Chelyabinsk about the Bible: "My beliefs do not allow me to harm anyone. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I strive to keep the commandment "love your neighbor.""

Transcript of the court session in the Kalininsky District Court of Chelyabinsk dated 03.11.2023 in the case 1-982/2023 on the charge of Evgeny V. Bushev of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Bushev Evgeny Valerievich:

Dear Court! I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all participants in the process: to the prosecutor — for striving to be on guard of the law; to the lawyer — for good preparation in providing me with protection; to the judge — for striving to be unbiased; to the secretary — for hard work in preparing transcripts of the court session and documentation, as well as to all those who came to support me.

I would like to draw your attention to the following. I really don't feel guilty about the accusation against me. But this is not because I allegedly do not repent of what I have done, but because I have not committed a crime either against the authorities or against any particular person. In fact, they are trying to accuse me because of my religious beliefs.

But my beliefs do not allow me to harm anyone. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I strive to keep the commandment "love your neighbor" (Matthew 22:39). This is confirmed by the words of neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances with whom I strive to be on good terms and to whom I provide all possible assistance. My beliefs are not illegal, but are guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation [...]

The investigator from the investigative department for the Traktorozavodsky district of Chelyabinsk said the following words: "Jehovah's Witnesses continue to worship God after the liquidation of the Management Center, showing kindness to each other." Dear court, is the manifestation of kindness, such a rare quality in our time, something reprehensible and even more criminally punishable?

Rosgvardiya employee Denis Polikarpov did not confirm that I allegedly committed a crime against the state or individual people. I would like to draw your attention to some points concerning my conversations with Polikarpov on religious topics. Denis himself was the initiator of me telling him about the Bible. He has repeatedly shared with me his feelings about relationships with colleagues and loved ones, as well as feelings after the death of his friend.

In an effort to comfort this man, I met with him, showed him from the Bible how to solve the difficulties he talked about. For example, the following biblical thoughts help in family life: "So let each of you love your wife as yourself"; "So, husbands, treat your wives wisely, as with the weakest vessel, honoring them as co-heirs of a gracious life, so that you will not be hindered in your prayers" (Ephesians 5:33, 1 Peter 3:7).

In addition, to Denis's question about the attitude to power, I cited the following text from Scripture: "Let every soul be submissive to the higher authorities," explaining that due to the existence of the authorities and compliance with the laws, a certain order is maintained, for example, crime is restrained. Existing services support and sometimes save our lives (for example, fire protection, police, healthcare). I also told Denis about the hope of seeing people close to him, who were taken away by death, and meeting them on paradise land. This is stated in Acts 24:15: "Having hope in God that there will be a resurrection of the dead, the righteous and the unrighteous."

When I talked to Denis, I had no goal to overthrow or undermine the existing state system, to destroy someone's family. When studying the Bible with him, I used a textbook that is not included in the list of literature recognized by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation as extremist. And neither the investigator nor the prosecutor, but only a special commission, can add this benefit to the above list.

Your Honor, I also want to emphasize the following: there is no important component in my actions that could classify them as crimes, namely motivation. I had a sincere desire to help Denis Polikarpov, to provide him with spiritual and emotional support, which he himself asked for. I have repeatedly been convinced of the usefulness and effectiveness of biblical teachings. For example, studying the Bible helped me to get rid of bad habits myself, become more restrained, honestly perform my duties at work, earn trust and a good reputation among those who know me.

I am very sorry that the prosecutor, requesting a sentence of 6 years in prison, in fact, put me on a par with people who committed premeditated murder, because this is the term they assign for this crime.

Your Honor, it surprises me that in the 14 volumes of the criminal case, at best 10% of all the material concerns the assessment of my actions, and most of it relates to people who live in other regions and whom I have never heard of. I also want to clarify the following. In the materials of the case, among the testimony of witnesses from the prosecution, there is an allegation that allegedly one of the people who share the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses told about the end of the world. I want to say that Jehovah's Witnesses do not have such a creed. We do not believe in the end of the world, but in a new world that will soon be established by God. That's what the Bible says about it: "However, according to His promise, we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells"; "Because the righteous will live on earth, and the blameless will dwell on it" (2 Peter 3:13, Proverbs 2:22).

Your Honor, I am addressing you as a lawyer and a person. I ask you, in view of all that has been said, to find me innocent, to pass an acquittal, and to stop the criminal prosecution.

Summary of the case

Region:

Chelyabinsk region

Locality:

Chelyabinsk

What is suspected of:

"He took part in the activities of a religious association... in the form of participation in religious meetings and meetings of an extremist organization, conducting conversations with residents of Chelyabinsk, demonstrating and watching educational videos" (from the resolution on the initiation of criminal proceedings)

Criminal case number:

12202750030000030

Initiated:

August 24, 2022

Current stage of the case:

Proceedings in the court of first instance

Investigates:

Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Chelyabinsk region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Case number in court:

1-982/2023

Court of First Instance:

Kalininsky District Court of Chelyabinsk

Judge of the Court of First instance:

Anton Yerofeyev