One More Sentence for Faith in Tolyatti. The Court Gave a Suspended Sentence to 62-year-old Yelena Kozhevnikova

 RUSSIA


One More Sentence for Faith in Tolyatti. The Court Gave a Suspended Sentence to 62-year-old Yelena Kozhevnikova

March 5, 2024 Samara Region


On March 4, 2024, the judge of the Central District Court of the city of Tolyatti, Irina Onuchina, found Yelena Kozhevnikova guilty of extremism and sentenced her to 2 years of suspended sentence for "active participation in the activities of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses through video conferencing."


The prosecutor requested 4 years of imprisonment for the believer.


In her attitude to the accusation, Kozhevnikova stated that she does not pose any public danger, as she respects people of any nationality and religion, the laws of the state. "This is taught by the Bible, which for me is the most important law," the believer emphasized. "I do not think that talking about God and biblical principles in any way violates the constitutional order or poses a threat to state security."


The criminal prosecution of Yelena began in May 2023, following searches that took place simultaneously at several addresses of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tolyatti. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against the believer, and she was taken a written undertaking not to leave the city. Within 2 months, the case went to court. The accusation was based on the testimony of a secret witness and hidden video recordings of worship services.


In the Samara Region, 10 Jehovah's Witnesses have already been prosecuted, one of whom was sentenced to 8 years in prison for their faith, and four more to 7 years in prison.


The case of Kozhevnikova in Tolyatti


Case history


In May 2023, the homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the city of Tolyatti were searched. Yelena Kozhevnikova became a defendant in a criminal case for her faith. A written undertaking not to leave was taken from her. The woman was accused of participating in the activities of an extremist organization only because she gathered with friends to discuss Bible teachings. The basis for initiating a criminal case was a hidden video recording of religious services, which was conducted for 2.5 years. In July 2023, the case went to court. The prosecutor requested 4 years in prison for Yelena. In March 2024, the court issued a 2-year suspended sentence.


Criminal case


Region:

Samara Region

Locality:

Tolyatti

Suspected of:

"In an unspecified period of time ... being in a place unidentified by the investigation, being a citizen of the Russian Federation, she joined the religious organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" and local religious organizations that are part of its structure [...] Organized the production and distribution of paper media containing the ideology of the above-mentioned religious organization" (from the Decision on bringing as an accused).

Court case number:

12302360032000243

Case initiated:

May 15, 2023

Current case stage:

Appeal

Investigating:

Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Samara Region

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Court case number:

1-525/2023

Court of First Instance:

Central District Court of Tolyatti

 Judge of the Court of First Instance:

 Irina Onuchina

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