The last word of the defendant Viola Shepel in Surgut

 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 the intricacies of religion, some of you did not plan to do this in your life, and some did not want to. But you have shown patience, in some moments even endurance and professionalism. Thank you.

My dear brothers, thank you for supporting me all this time, giving me warm words of encouragement and taking care of our family. Many thanks to my husband Pavel for bravely enduring my tears and helping me in everything. Thank you to our beloved daughter Varvara. She walked this path with us. She did not allow herself or us to be discouraged. She always tried to cheer us up, although it wasn't easy for her.

Many thanks to all the believers who have been with us all this time, came in any weather and gave their love and support. When we were left without means of livelihood, they helped us in everything, completely took over our maintenance, which once again proves the truthfulness of the words of Jehovah God recorded in the Bible, in the book of John, chapter 13, verse 35: "If love reigns among you, everyone will know that you are my disciples".

Your Honor, I am accused of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which means extremism must be found in my actions. But extremism is not peculiar to my personality — I have always respected someone else's point of view, so I was taught by my parents, who are not Jehovah's Witnesses.

I chose my profession consciously. Taking care of my sick mother, I realized that I want to help people in difficult circumstances and I want all people to be healthy. Working in the field of medical care, I increasingly wondered: why does a person age, get sick and die? I have seen what huge steps medicine is making forward, but still cannot cope with these problems. The Bible has given clear answers to these questions, and you do not need to be a professor of medical sciences to do this. People were dying before my eyes. Medicine was powerless. I saw how the life in people was fading and with what pain they said what they had spent their lives on. The people were different, and the words were the same. They understood that they had devoted their whole lives to work, tried to live in comfort and prosperity, and there was nothing wrong with that, but they did not see how their children grew up, how time was running out. They are getting old, and now the disease has determined the end of their lives.

I saw how young people who led a healthy lifestyle were completely struck by a terrible disease, and all that medicine could offer them was to prolong their lives for a maximum of 5 years. But what is 5 years for a person? For comparison, this is the duration of our criminal proceedings. The words from the Bible, which promises in Isaiah 33:24, "Then no one will say, 'I am sick,'" save from deep depression, when realizing hopelessness, and further, in chapter 35, verses 5 and 6 it is written: "Then the blind will see and the deaf will hear. The lame one will gallop like a deer, and the dumb one will cheerfully exclaim." And in the final book of the Bible, Revelation 21:4 says: "God will wipe the tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more weeping, no more pain. Everything that was before has passed." That's how a person will live, what else can you dream about? But you can often hear the answer: "I won't live to see that time. And again, the Bible makes a promise, in Acts 24:15, 16: "I have the same hope in God as they have—the hope that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore, I try to always have a clear conscience before God and people."

Jehovah is a just and loving God, he gives an opportunity to learn about him to those who did not have it. Someone might think: if your God is just and loving, why are you here? Because I am a witness of the amazing things that my God Jehovah has done. His deeds are confirmed by history, archeology and other sciences. And also people who have completely changed their lives by deciding to live according to the norms of God. And I am one of such people: I stopped drinking, smoking, swearing, learned to love people, even when they offend me, to forgive and see their good qualities in people. In a difficult life situation in which my family finds itself, you can go crazy or even commit suicide. But I am here, alive and psychologically healthy, which is confirmed by the examination. And this is not my merit. All this time, my God supported me — gave me strength, patience, courage and supported my health. I couldn't have done it on my own. And all this for the purpose that is recorded in the Bible, in Matthew 24:14: "The glad tidings of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole earth, so that all nations will hear it."

I am here because Jehovah wants all of you, dear participants in the process, to know and remember that God loves you! And if I have to be punished for my faith, then I'm ready. After all, no other corpus delicti has been proven in my actions.

Summary of the case

Region:

Khanty-Mansiysk JSC

Locality:

Surgut

What is suspected:

"He made speeches, participated in a preaching service with local "Jehovah's witnesses", held meetings with "pioneers", "elders" and "service assistants", including for the purpose of organizing the activities of "elders" in the "assembly""Take-off"".

Criminal case number:

42002007709000023

Initiated:

February 11, 2019

Current stage of the case:

Proceedings in the court of first instance

Investigates:

SO in Surgut SU IC of the Russian Federation in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1), 282.3 (1), 282.2 (2)

Case number in court:

№ 1-27/2023 (1-130/2022; 1-1348/2021)

Court:

Surgut City Court

Judge:

Dmitry Lupin