The last word of the defendant Sergei Vasiliev in Irkutsk

 RUSSIA 

 

The last word of the defendant Sergei Vasiliev in Irkutsk

January 24, 2024

Irkutsk region

Sergei Vasiliev, addressing the court, said: "With the help of the Bible, I try to show love to all people and respect the state authorities… I'm sure there's nothing wrong with people getting better by studying the Bible. The Bible has helped me, and I want it to help many more people."

Transcript of the court session in the Oktyabrsky District Court of Irkutsk dated 01/24/2024 in the case 1-6/2024 (1-105/2023; 1-857/2022) according to the accusation of Vasiliev Sergey Evgenievich and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Vasiliev Sergey Evgenievich:

Your Honor, I am almost 73 years old, and I have lived more than half of them without knowing God. My life without a Creator could not be called successful. Judge for yourself.

As a child, I grew up without parents and therefore absorbed everything that the street gave me. I didn't have clear guidelines in my life, so I committed a crime while serving in the army. The tribunal assigned me two years of general regime. After serving my sentence, I mastered the professions of a car mechanic and a driver, but again committed a crime. I served the second term — three years in prison — in a high-security colony. After my second release, I got married, mastered about 20 professions and even got a diploma.

It would seem that life should be getting better. But the negative experiences I had in my life continued to affect me. My character and speech were not peaceful. In the environment, I saw that only the strongest survive, and no one needs me, so I found satisfaction only in work. And so, in 1993, I met Jehovah's Witnesses and began to study the Bible.

I learned from the Bible that Jehovah God loves not only all people, but also me personally and is ready to help me change for the better. He loves people so much that he prompted the prophets to write instructions for life — the Holy Scriptures, where it is written three times: "He who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved" (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13). Jesus— the Son of God, going to heaven, said to his apostles: "Go and prepare disciples in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And I will be with you every day until this world comes to its end."

After studying the biblical prophecies, I saw that many of them have already been fulfilled, and the rest of God's promises have yet to be fulfilled. I especially liked the promise of the Almighty that in the future, with the help of the Creator, the whole earth will gradually turn into paradise and love will reign on it. All people, as well as animals, will live in peace with each other. But to be worthy of such a life, you need to change yourself. I realized this and began to make efforts to change my lifestyle.

With the help of the Lifesaver, I quit smoking. Gradually, I got rid of the "Zonal" habits. I had to forget two languages — criminal and obscene. He stopped communicating with former comrades who did not want to live according to the laws of God. I tried to change myself towards biblical principles. As I continued to study the Bible daily, I developed patience, mercy, humility, and love for God and the people around me. But still, it took me nine years to get rid of all the blackness that I had acquired in more than 40 years.

And so in 2002 I was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. But I did not become a member of the MRO. I was just a believer who wanted to live in a way that pleased his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and his Son Jesus Christ.

And now I'm being judged again. But what is being judged for this time? If I really committed crimes before and was deservedly punished, now I am being tried for wanting to help Citizen Klokov understand the Bible, and for discussing the Bible with other Jehovah's Witnesses at worship services. With the help of the Bible, I try to show love to all people and respect government authorities. If this is a crime according to state laws, then I am ready to face any punishment, although at my age of 72 and with many diseases it will be difficult for me to stay in a colony.

But I'm sure there's nothing wrong with people getting better by studying the Bible. The Bible has helped me, and I want it to help many more people. Citizen Klokov seemed to me to be a sincere person, and in court he explained that he had a personal desire to study the Bible.

God has given each of us free will and the right to choose — to know the Creator of the universe and live according to his principles or to act in our own way, reaping the consequences of our actions. I made my choice before Jehovah, and this choice is not related to extremism.

Therefore, I ask you, Your Honor, to look into the formulated accusations and make the right decision.

Summary of the case

Region:

Irkutsk region

Locality:

Irkutsk

What is suspected:

Being "adherents of the religious association "The Management Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia", they organized collective religious services consisting of consistently performed songs and prayers to Jehovah God, the study of articles" (from the decision on bringing as an accused)

Criminal case number:

12102250040000051

Initiated:

October 4, 2021

The current stage of the case:

Proceedings in the court of first instance

Investigating:

2nd investigative department of the 3rd Department for the investigation of particularly important cases of the SU IC of the Russian Federation in the Irkutsk region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

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

The number of the case in court:

1-6/2024 (1-105/2023; 1-857/2022)

Court of first instance:

Oktyabrsky District Court of Irkutsk

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Andrey Slavinsky