The last word of the defendant Yuri Ponomarenko in Luchegorsk

 RUSSIA 

 

The last word of the defendant Yuri Ponomarenko in Luchegorsk

January 17, 2024

Primorsky Krai

The believer drew the court's attention to the fact that he was being tried only for talking about God. He said: "I can't help but talk about what a loving God Jehovah is… I was only exercising the constitutional right to tell others about my beliefs."

Transcript of the court hearing in the Pozharsky District Court of Primorsky Krai dated 01/17/2024 in the case № 1-6/2024 (1-22/2023; 1-197/2022) on the charges of Yuri Viktorovich Ponomarenko and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Yuri Viktorovich Ponomarenko:

Dear Court, At the beginning of my speech, with the last word, I want to thank everyone who took part in this trial.

I want to thank our investigator, Natalia Andreevna Sorokina, for calling us for questioning at a convenient time for us, sometimes to the detriment of her rest. I want to thank the representatives of the prosecutor's office for correctly pronouncing the name of God, Jehovah, when reading out the case materials. I want to thank you, Your Honor, for not remaining indifferent to this case, but trying to understand its essence. I would like to thank the secretary of the court session for the technical support of the process.

I would like to thank our lawyers, and especially my lawyer by appointment, Oleg Alexandrovich Dementiev, for providing legal assistance at all stages of the trial.

Dear court, the trial is coming to an end and the verdict will be announced very soon. I am being tried for allegedly continuing the activities of the liquidated Local religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses in Luchegorsk. But this is an unfounded accusation, since it is logically impossible to continue the activities of an organization that does not exist.

During the four searches that were conducted at my place, they searched for any records where the name Jehovah was mentioned. It turns out that they want to condemn me precisely because I profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, which is not prohibited in Russia.

Why is this happening? From a layman's point of view, this is absurd, but if you look from a spiritual point of view, then everything falls into place. How? If you examine the Bible, it will become clear what is the reason for today's persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses.

It all started with the fact that one angel, then called Satan or the Devil, which translates as "opponent" and "slanderer", inclined the first human couple to rebel against God. This has led to catastrophic consequences for humanity. But immediately after the rebellion, God provided a device by which humanity could get rid of its consequences — this is the Kingdom of God under the rule of his son Jesus Christ. We ask for it to come when we say the prayer known as "Our Father."

Since then, Satan has been trying with all his might to destroy all those who stand up for the name of Jehovah. For him, the name Jehovah is like a red rag for a bull. Satan is trying to make sure that this name is not pronounced anywhere. In part, he succeeds. For example, at first, due to superstition, it was removed from the Bible and replaced with the title "Lord", then Satan made sure that the chosen people of God Israel forgot this name. So, if we come to modern Israel, we will see many inscriptions with the name Jehovah in the Hebrew language, but if you ask the Israelis what this name is, what it means, they will not be able to answer. In the spiritual sphere, there is, figuratively speaking, a trial. And all those who stand up for the name of Jehovah are called "Jehovah's Witnesses." We testify that Satan is a liar.

Throughout the history of mankind, Jehovah's Witnesses have been persecuted. In the first century, Jesus was crucified on false charges. Shortly before his death, he said the words recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verse 9: "Then you will be persecuted and killed, and all nations will hate you because of my name." During the Nazi era, then during the Soviet era, Jehovah's Witnesses were persecuted. Later, all of them were rehabilitated as victims of repression. Today, no matter how hard it is to talk about it, there is another round of persecution.

Dear court, many people say: "You would sit quietly at home, you would believe yourself, and no one would touch you." But I can't help but talk about what a loving God Jehovah is — out of love for people and in fulfillment of the commandment that Jesus Christ gave and which is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, in chapter 28, verses 19 and 20: "Go therefore, teach all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you," I also cannot help telling about God's plans for humanity that he will very soon eliminate all the harm caused by Satan. Is this a crime?

It is clear from the case file that I had no intention of carrying out any illegal actions. I was only exercising my constitutional right to profess religion both independently and jointly with my co-religionists, and to tell others about my beliefs.

While studying the Bible, I learned about the requirements that help a person become a better person. I also found out what kind of things God hates, and tried to fix all the bad habits. In the 1st Letter to the Corinthians, the 6th chapter, the 9th and 10th verses it says: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves, nor drunkards will inherit the Kingdom of God."

[…]

There is no evidence in the case file of inciting hatred towards others, i.e. extremism. They are not there because I follow the biblical command: "Be at peace with all people." There are no victims of my actions in my case. Dear Court, I am a simple law-abiding citizen of our country who wants to enjoy the rights guaranteed by its Constitution. I have not committed any illegal actions. Therefore, I ask you to acquit me and the other defendants.

Summary of the case

Region:

Primorsky Krai

Locality:

Luchegorsk

Criminal case number:

12102050012000058

Case initiated:

July 16, 2021

Current stage of the case:

proceedings in the court of first instance

Investigates:

From the city of Dalnerechensk to the SU IC of the Russian Federation in the Primorsky Territory

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)

The number of the case in court:

1-6/2024 (1-22/2023; 1-197/2022)

The Court of First Instance:

Pozharsky District Court of Primorsky Krai

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Mikhail Atroshko