The last word of the defendant Alexei Ukhov in Sovetskaya Gavan

 RUSSIA 

The last word of the defendant Alexei Ukhov in Sovetskaya Gavan

March 24, 2023

Khabarovsk Territory

From the courtroom

In his last word, the believer explained how important it is for him to remain faithful to God and lead a law-abiding life: "I want to preserve the reputation of a man worthy of respect, who values his word, and also values the honor of being a Jehovah's Witness. This is very important to me."

Transcript of the court session in the Sovetsko-Gavansky City Court of the Khabarovsk Territory dated 03/24/2023 in the case 1-1/2023 (1-11/2022; 1-207/2021) on charges of Alexey Viktorovich Ukhov of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Alexey Viktorovich Ukhov:

Dear court, it has already been the third year since the arrest. I spent 8.5 months in jail, and this trial has been going on for more than 1.5 years. I am branded an extremist. I am like a dangerous criminal who allegedly committed something terrible against the state.

[...] What am I accused of and what am I being tried for? All the time, while the investigation and trial were going on, I was trying to understand what I was being tried for and accused of, not from a formal point of view, but on the merits of the case. Formally, I understand that I am being tried under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for extremism. But while reading this article, I tried to figure out which of these things applies to me, but I still didn't understand.

My beliefs are exclusively peaceful, so there are no victims or victims in the case. It is unacceptable for me to humiliate human dignity, undermine the foundations of the constitutional order, incite religious or racial strife. And the prosecution has not provided a single piece of evidence to the contrary during the entire trial. And the fact that I read the Bible, talked about biblical topics and prayed to God with my co—religionists is sad that the prosecution considers this extremism.

Yes, Your Honor, I am a Jehovah's Witness, I am a Christian who tries to live the way the Lord Jesus Christ taught, and this is not a crime. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation did not prohibit the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have no intention of giving up my faith in God. Believing in God is not a crime. True faith must be confirmed by deeds. In Scripture, the disciple James wrote: "So faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself... faith has contributed to works, and by works faith has reached perfection." What kind of cases are we talking about? This is my life based on the commandments of God, which the son of God, Jesus Christ, spoke about. That's what he said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And also: "Love your neighbor as yourself." That is, you need to love God with all your being, and your neighbors are all people.

So what is the extremism that is imputed to me? Did I get worse after 2017? No Maybe he used violence against someone? No Maybe he caused pain and suffering to someone? No Maybe he went to rallies against the government? No Maybe he lost the right to use Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation? Not either. My last name is not indicated in the decision of the Supreme Court, no one has deprived me of the right to use the Constitution of the Russian Federation. If all this is true, then why am I here in the dock?

Despite all this, I have not lost faith in God and people, my conscience is clear. For me, as a Jehovah's Witness, such actions as violation of the constitutional order and integrity of the Russian Federation are completely alien and unacceptable. As a Christian, as a Jehovah's Witness, I declare that I have never set myself such goals.

God's laws are a guide to life for me. Jesus Christ in John 13:35 said: "By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves." The Apostle Paul added in Romans 12:18: "If it is possible on your part, be at peace with all people." This is a universal guide that helps me keep peace with people, regardless of their position in society.

Being a Jehovah's Witness means adhering to high biblical standards of morality and purity, as well as remaining righteous. This is vitally important and completely contradicts the ideas of extremism. Neither I nor my co-religionists need the guidance of a legal entity to glorify God. This is what happens to other believers in Russia who go to their churches, listen to sermons and study. Your Honor, I am not some kind of fanatic, my beliefs are based on the Bible, I am not guilty of the crime of which I am accused.

I once swore allegiance to Jehovah. I dedicated my life to him and I did it sincerely and from the bottom of my heart. I do not want, cannot and will not renege on my promise. I liked one saying that sounds like this: "When people make false oaths, words lose all meaning." What does it mean? For example, the military takes the oath of allegiance to the Motherland. They will be severely punished for violating their oath. Similarly, judges solemnly swear to perform their duties honestly and conscientiously, to administer justice, obeying only the law, to be impartial and fair, as their duty and conscience tell them. By violating the oath, judges undermine confidence in themselves, in the entire judicial system, and as a result, the reputation of the state is formed.

I want to preserve the reputation of a man worthy of respect, who values his word, and also values the honor of being a Jehovah's Witness. This is very important to me.

The state prosecutor wants to send me to a penal colony for 7 years. Do they want to fix me by putting me in a society with scammers, rapists, murderers and drug addicts? In fact, the state wants me to renounce my faith, stop studying the Bible, not discuss it with others and not sing songs praising Jehovah; so that I do not help those in need, because this is what is used as proof of my guilt. These actions allegedly prove that I continued the activities of an organization banned by the court. Then how can I practice my religion in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation? As I said, I cannot give up my religion.

I would like to emphasize that in this case, the only victims are me and my wife, who shares all the hardships of the investigation and the court. Our physical, emotional and material condition has been harmed.

In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. Sincerity is very important in gratitude, and not just a tribute to decency. First of all, I thank my dear wife Lilia. I remember the words of Jesus Christ that he said about family relationships: "They are no longer two, but one flesh." Personally, I have seen for myself that my spouse is my flesh, for almost 20 years of marriage.

I would also like to thank all the participants in the process: appointed lawyer Vladimir Grigoryevich, who tried to get to the bottom of the case and objectively present the case as an experienced defender.

Your Honor, thank you for trying to figure out this difficult case. According to this article, it looks like the first case in Sovetskaya Gavan.

I would also like to thank the secretaries and state prosecutors for trying to do their difficult work in good faith during the long more than 50 meetings.

More than 1,500 letters that I received from 50 countries during my stay in jail from many co—religionists and completely different people and organizations - what, besides gratitude, can I feel in this regard?

The only truth is that I am a believer, that I am a Christian. And being a Christian means following in the footsteps of Christ, but where did this path lead? Jesus was brought to the pillar of torment, and now I may be led to unjustified punishment. If that's the case, then I'm on the right track.

I have a clear conscience both before God and before the state. I know I didn't commit any crime. And no matter how events unfold, I am sure that my God will support me.

Although I say my last word, the judge still has the last word in this process. Your Honor, it would be fair to acquit me, not to let me become another figure in some indicators.

Whatever the court's decision, I am happy that the Judge of the whole earth will have the last word. After all, we will all appear before his judicial throne.

Summary of the case

Region:

Khabarovsk Territory

Locality:

Sovetskaya Gavan

What is suspected:

"He committed acts aimed at reading prayers... studying and quoting texts of Holy Scripture... and psalm songs"

Criminal case number:

12007080001000073

Initiated:

October 21, 2020

Current stage of the case:

The verdict has entered into force

Investigating:

The Federal Security Service of Russia for the Khabarovsk Territory

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

1-207/2021

Court:

Sovetsko-Gavansky City Court of the Khabarovsk Territory

Judge:

Victoria Anokhina