Marina Chaplykina's last word in Novosibirsk

 RUSSIA 

Marina Chaplykina's last word in Novosibirsk

December 15, 2023

Novosibirsk region

Speaking to the court about how biblical truths affect her life, the believer noted: "I decided to obey the authorities. And for this reason, she did not use publications, video and audio materials if they were included in the list of the Ministry of Justice as extremist. During the process, it became obvious."

Transcript of the court session in the Novosibirsk District Court of the Novosibirsk Region dated December 15, 2023 in the case 1-16/2023 on charges of Chaplykina Marina Stanislavovna of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2, part 2 of Article 282.2 and part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Chaplykina Marina Stanislavovna:

At the beginning of my last word, I want to thank the respected court for the opportunity to speak in its defense. I would also like to thank you, Your Honor, for meeting us halfway when difficulties arose during the process. For example, when health problems appeared, they let us go on vacation, gave us the opportunity to see friends in the gym. I would also like to thank the state prosecutor for his hard work and thank my lawyer.

In addition, I would like to say a special thank you to my daughter. You have always been there for me and supported me during this difficult time for both of us. Special thanks to Valera and his family. All this time, you have been very supportive of me both in word and deed. It's hard for me to imagine how the process would go if I had to do everything alone. I want to thank all my friends. You were with me, I felt your presence. You called me, came to the trial, despite being busy. Those who could not come wrote words of support and prayed for me. I will never forget it.

Your Honor, during this process, I have had many opportunities to think carefully and weigh everything. And so I want to briefly share my thoughts.

What if 23 years ago, when I first started reading the Bible, I had been warned that I would be in the dock for my newfound faith in God? I answered this question honestly to myself: I would have gone this way anyway. And do you know why? Jesus Christ said in Matthew 7:13-14 that there are only two roads, and here are his recommendations: "Enter through a narrow gate, because a wide gate and a wide road lead to destruction, and many enter through these gates. And a narrow gate and a narrow road lead to life, and only a few find them."

What did Jesus Christ mean when he spoke about the narrow gate? And he was talking about what is happening right now: "And they will lead you to rulers and kings for me, for a testimony" (Matthew 10:18). He also did not hide from us how some would react to this: "And you will be hated by all for my name; but he who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22).

Why then, knowing about this, would I still choose this "narrow" path? Where does this road lead? She leads a life that most people are afraid to believe in because they don't want to look weird in the eyes of others. But I do. I know for sure that the words of Revelation 21:3, 4 will definitely come true: "I heard a loud voice from the throne say, 'God's tent is among men, and God will live with them. They will be his people, and he will be with them. God will wipe the tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more sobbing, no more pain. Everything that happened before has passed." So I decided for myself: what is happening now is temporary. It will pass soon, very soon! There will definitely be no death, people will live forever. At the same time, they will not cry with grief, as there will be no reason to grieve. That is, there will be no wars, crime, fraud, betrayal, divorce and so on. It turns out, Your Honor, that the inconveniences that Jesus Christ warned about and that are really happening to me now are temporary. And the life that awaits me is eternal. If you compare them, then difficulties are a drop in the ocean.

My thoughts led me to the following question: what if I had been warned five years ago that the person who "wanted to study the Bible so much" was actually an operative? What then?

Your Honor, back in 2018, I assumed that. Then why did we continue to communicate with him? It is important to take into account the opinion of God. It is reflected in 1 Timothy 2:3, 4, where it says that he "wants all people to be saved and to attain knowledge and truth." That's all — so does the operative, too. Moreover, none of the people can know in advance exactly how the truth from the Bible will affect someone. I regarded God's trust in me as an opportunity to convey to this person the knowledge that leads to eternal life.

But, Your Honor, there is one more point that I, as a Christian, took into account then and will continue to do so. He is recorded in Romans 13:1, 2: "Every person must obey the highest authorities, because any authority is from God. The existing authorities occupy the places assigned to them by God. Therefore, anyone who opposes authority is rebelling against the order established by God, and such a person will incur condemnation." Thinking deeply about this, I decided to obey the authorities. And for this reason, she did not use publications, video and audio materials if they were included in the list of the Ministry of Justice as extremist. During the process, it became obvious. There are no extremist materials among the evidence.

Your Honor, I appreciate that I had the opportunity to give the last word. In the end, I ask you to draw your attention to what exactly I was guided by. It was the Bible! And only the Bible. The presence of a legal entity or its absence has never been important to me. It has always been so, and it will continue to be so — I will build my faith exclusively on the Bible. Since I was guided by my faith, the laws of our state, and at the same time there are no victims in the hall, there are no consequences that would be dangerous for society, I consider myself not guilty — neither before God nor before the state. I ask you to acquit me.

Summary of the case

Region:

Novosibirsk region

Locality:

Novosibirsk

What is suspected:

According to the investigation, "he organized meetings and led the reading and discussion of literature recognized as extremist" (with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on the liquidation of all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses)

Criminal case number:

11907500001000015

Initiated:

April 19, 2019

The current stage of the case:

The appeal

is being investigated by:

The Federal Security Service of Russia for the Novosibirsk Region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

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

The number of the case in court:

1-16/2023 (1-181/2022)

Court of First Instance:

Novosibirsk District Court of the Novosibirsk region

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Oleg Karpets