The last word of the defendant Mikhail Potapov in Votkinsk

 RUSSIA 

The last word of the defendant Mikhail Potapov in Votkinsk

March 18, 2024

Udmurtia

In his last word, the believer explained that in Russia it is allowed to be a Jehovah's Witness. "I don't understand why the investigation took so much time for itself, for me and for the court to unreasonably label me an "extremist" and forbid me to practice my religion," he said.

Transcript of the court session in the Votkinsk District Court of the Udmurt Republic dated 03/18/2024 in the case 1-6/2024 (1-9/2023; 1-25/2022; 1-542/2021) on charges of Mikhail Nikolaevich Potapov and Sergei Borisovich Gobozev of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Potapov Mikhail Nikolaevich:

I would like to begin my last word with words of gratitude to all those present for participating in this difficult task. Thank you, Your Honor, for the respectful and objective conduct of the judicial investigation and the attitude to all participants in the process and to me in particular. Thank you to the Public Prosecutor for his calm and balanced attitude towards doing his job. Thanks to Yulia Nikolaevna, the secretary, who always kindly helped to get acquainted with the case materials, warned about the time and date of court sessions and conscientiously kept protocols. Thanks to the lawyers for their qualified help and caring participation in this difficult criminal case on religious freedom.

I am accused of taking active actions aimed at continuing the illegal activities of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses of the city of Votkinsk, which was banned by the court. But during the judicial investigation it was established that I had never been a founder or participant of the MRO.

As I understand it, a person who would set a goal to organize or participate in the activities of an extremist organization must have extremist views, goals, and actions. But I did not have such goals and views, I did not take action to carry out extremist activities. There was no evidence of illegal activity in the case file or in court.

As a believer, I professed the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. It has never been banned by any court decision. No legal entity needs to be organized to believe in God, read and study the Bible, and meet with believers to study God's commandments. This is quite obvious to me. This is as clear as if there is an officially registered chess club operating as a legal entity in the city. There are chess fans in the same city who are not part of the founders and do not even know what it is like. Over time, the chess club will be liquidated. But the game of chess itself is not prohibited. And those who love her continue to play with their friends both before and after the creation of the chess club. Is it possible to accuse them of organizing or continuing the activities of the chess club that was liquidated? Of course not. So I think like this: Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation guarantees freedom of religion and does not prohibit me from professing my religion both before and after the liquidation of a legal entity to which I have never had anything to do. It's not a crime. Therefore, being a Jehovah's Witness is not prohibited, and I do not understand why the investigation took so much time for itself, for me and for the court to unreasonably label me an "extremist" and forbid me to profess my religion in the way that 8.5 million Jehovah's Witnesses around the world do.

I have been practicing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses for more than 20 years — since 2002. My beliefs are based on biblical principles and requirements. Thanks to my faith in the Creator — Jehovah God — and the application of the advice that he passed on to people through the Bible, my life has become better, more purposeful and happier. It was the application of biblical advice that helped me not to have bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, to give up drug use, to have a clean speech without profanity, to find real, worthy friends. And one of the main positive aspects is to keep your family together, despite all the difficulties and problems. I am very grateful to my wife for her support and for the fact that she was always there for me.

For me, being a Jehovah's Witness is a great honor and a huge responsibility! In order to remain a Jehovah's Witness and be a friend of God, it is necessary to learn to "hate evil and love good." Extremism is nothing more than a vivid expression of evil and moral baseness. Therefore, when I read my indictment, which uses the expressions "forcibly changing the foundations", "violation of integrity", "undermining security", "inciting hatred", these terrible words sent chills down my spine. It would never have occurred to me not to commit such actions, but I couldn't even think about them. Otherwise, I would not have been able to remain a Jehovah's Witness and maintain a good reputation in the eyes of God and people.

I am sincerely grateful to you, Your Honor, for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings. I ask you to make a fair decision, finding me innocent, and attach the last word to the case file.

Summary of the case

Region:

Udmurtia

Locality:

Votkinsk

What is suspected of:

"During illegal religious gatherings organized and led by Gobozev and Potapov, articles from the book "Holy Scripture — Translation of the New World" were studied" (from the decision on bringing as an accused)

Criminal case number:

12102940001000201

Case initiated:

January 20, 2021

Current stage of the case:

Proceedings in the court of first instance

Investigating:

SU IC of the Russian Federation for the Udmurt Republic

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

1-9/2023 (1-25/2022; 1-542/2021)

Court:

Votkinsky District Court of the Udmurt Republic

Referee:

Tamara Makarova