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 UKRAINE  A conscientious objector jail terms 30 April 2024 In late March a Sumy Region court handed a Jehovah's Witness . He is due to go to prison if their appeals fail. The one known prisoner, Dmytro Zelinsky, awaits a Supreme Court appeal on 13 June. Jehovah's Witnesses note that the March sentence is the first prison term handed down to any Jehovah's Witness for refusing mobilisation on grounds of conscience. They point out that this case was initiated and the first-instance court handed down a sentence within about five weeks, while many of their other cases have taken more than a year. No alternative civilian service in wartime despite Constitutional guarantees After Russia's renewed invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Ukraine declared a state of martial law. All men between the ages of 18 and 60 were deemed eligible for call-up in a general mobilisation and were banned from leaving the country. Ukraine's Defence Ministry insists that even the limited...

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Sergei Ashikhmin in Izhevsk April 22, 2024 Udmurtia The believer explained to the court why he tells others about his beliefs: "Faith in God gives real meaning to my life. I am sure that no one can be truly happy without knowing about God, his deeds and his intention for a wonderful future." Transcript of the court session in Pervomaisky district Court of Izhevsk dated 04/22/2024 in the case 1-7/2024 (1-18/2023; 1-233/2022) on the charges of Ashikhmin Sergey Alexandrovich and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Ashikhmin Sergey Alexandrovich: Dear Court, During the investigation of this criminal case and its consideration in court, many times I caught myself thinking that I was reading the history of the first Christians. During the Roman Empire, along with the establishment of Roman law and the existence of various privileges in relation to certain segments of soci...

 UZBEKISTAN Regime continues repeated arbitrary blocking of registration 26 April 2024 Regime officials have repeatedly used a variety of tactics to block state registration applications from Jehovah's witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses have all experienced blocking of registration attempts, and in a Jehovah's Witness case courts have backed the regime's arbitrary use of its power. "The Religion Law gives the authorities unlimited powers to refuse our registration, to our regret," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Unregistered Protestant communities have also come under police and SSS secret police pressure, including attempts to recruit informers. Regime officials have continued to repeatedly use a variety of tactics to block state registration applications from Muslim and non-Muslim religious communities. Religious communities without state registration are – against international human rights law – banned from exercising freedom of religion or belief. The ...

 RUSSIA  Case of Tokhtaev in Poronaysk Tokhtaev Daler Updated: April 29, 2024 Name: Tokhtaev Daler Ikramzhonovich Date of Birth: November 1, 1990 Current status: accused Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2) Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 24 day in a pre-trial detention Current restrictions: detention center Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Sakhalin Region Address for correspondence: Tokhtaev Daler Ikramzhonovich, 1990 born, Detention Center No.1 for Sakhalin Region, pr. Mira, 193, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Region, 693007 Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «FSIN-letter system». To pay for service with the card of a foreign bank use Prisonmail. Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass. Biography Daler Tokhtayev is a Jehovah's Witness originally from Tajikistan. In April 2024, he ended up i...

 RUSSIA  The case of Baylo in Kholmskaya Baylo Valeriy Updated: April 29, 2024 Name: Baylo Valeriy Semenovich Date of Birth: November 1, 1957 Current status: accused Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2) Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 25 day in a pre-trial detention Current restrictions: detention center Currently held in: Detention Center No.3 for Krasnodar Territory Address for correspondence: Baylo Valeriy Semenovich, 1957 born, Detention Center No.3 for Krasnodar Territory, ul. Parkhomenko, 33, Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Territory, 353905 Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «FSIN-letter system». To pay for service with the card of a foreign bank use Prisonmail. Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass. Biography Valeriy Baylo, a pensioner from the Krasnodar Territory, faced persecution for his faith in the spring o...

 RUSSIA    The last word of Elena Chechulina in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky April 18, 2024 Kamchatka Territory Speaking before the court, the believer said: "We are accused of continuing the activities of liquidated legal entities, whereas in fact we continue to worship God." Transcript of the court session in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court dated 04/18/2024 in the case 1-70/2024 on charges of Elena Nikolaevna Chechulina and Sergey Vyacheslavovich Chechulin of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Chechulina Elena Nikolaevna: Dear Court, Your Honor. I will begin my speech by outlining some of the truths that are fundamental to us, Jehovah's Witnesses. My husband and I believe that Jehovah is the only true God and holds the position of Supreme Ruler by right of the Creator. We recognize that only He, as the Creator, is the highest Legislator and Judge, and we are convinced of the priority of His laws. We are convi...

 RUSSIA  The Chelyabinsk Regional court reduced the term of imprisonment of Evgeny Bushev in a penal colony from 7 to 6 years April 26, 2024 Chelyabinsk region On April 25, 2024, the Chelyabinsk Regional Court considered an appeal against the sentence of 50-year-old Jehovah's Witness Yevgeny Bush and reduced his sentence from 7 to 6 years in prison. The Court considered the discussion of the Bible to be "the organization of the activities of an extremist organization." In the appeal, the defense party drew attention to the fact that the conclusions of the court of first instance did not correspond to the actual circumstances of the case. The prosecution did not name specific extremist actions allegedly committed by the defendant. Also, the fact that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation did not prohibit the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, and the right to be a believer does not depend on the existence of a legal entity, was not taken into account. In addition, ...

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Sergei Chechulin in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky April 18, 2024 Kamchatka Territory The believer told the court that he grew up in a boarding school for orphans. He is grateful to the state for his happy, serene childhood and settled life. "Therefore, accusations of extremism came out of the blue for me," he said. Transcript of the court session in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court dated 04/18/2024 in the case 1-70/2024 on charges of Chechulin Sergey Vyacheslavovich and Chechulina Elena Nikolaevna of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Chechulin Sergey Vyacheslavovich: Your Honor, I am already an accomplished person in my life. Like any other person, I have my own views, worldview, some foundations and, of course, the meaning of life. There is no place for hatred, lies, and strife in them. I have peace, peace and confidence in the future in my heart. My parents passed away early...

 RUSSIA  A Court in Primorye Territory Sent One of Jehovah's Witnesses Anton Virich to a Penal Colony for Six Years April 25, 2024 Primorye Territory In Luchegorsk, on April 25, 2024, the Pozharsky District Court of Primorye Territory convicted another Jehovah's Witness. Judge Vera Novogradskaya sentenced Anton Virich, 44, to 6 years and 2 months in prison for discussing the Bible with fellow believers. In July 2023, Anton Virich was detained by law enforcement officers. The man was placed in a pre-trial detention center, where he remained until the verdict was passed. The court has been considering the case of organizing the activities of an extremist organization since October 2023. The materials contain information only that Virich professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, but there is no information about the commission of any specific crimes. Speaking in defense of the defendant, the lawyer said: "The usual actions for every believer become, in the opinion of...

 RUSSIA  One of Jehovah's Witnesses Was Detained in Moscow and Taken to Saratov. Three Days Later, He Was Placed Under House Arrest April 25, 2024 Moscow,   Saratov Region On April 21, 2024, Moscow security forces detained one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Sergey Bagiyan, 50. He was informed that he was a suspect in a criminal case on extremism. According to Bagiyan's relatives, law enforcement officers with machine guns came to Sergey's home in the afternoon. They behaved politely, nevertheless they handcuffed the believer and took him to the police station. Later, Sergey was transported to Saratov and placed in a temporary detention center. On April 24, the Volzhskiy District Court chose a measure of restraint against him in the form of house arrest for two months.

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Adam Swarichevsky in Blagoveshchensk December 21, 2022 Amur region From the courtroom "I just want to serve God the way it is written in the Bible, not the way someone wants to impose on me," the believer said. "I am ready for any court decision, because I am convinced that I have done nothing illegal either on the part of God's demands or on the part of the state." Transcript of the court session in the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur region dated 12/21/2022 in the case 1-135/2022 on charges of Adam Mikhailovich Swarichevsky and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Adam Mikhailovich Swarichevsky: At the beginning of my speech, I want to express my gratitude. Thank you, Your Honor, for listening attentively and patiently to me and other participants in the process in order to understand the essence of this trial. I express my gratitude to the sec...

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Evgeny Bitusov in the Zee December 27, 2022 Amur region From the courtroom Assessing what is happening with Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia in his last word, Yevgeny Bitusov quoted the words of the writer Albert Camus: "When religion is combined with politics, the Inquisition is born." Transcript of the court session in the Zeisky District Court of the Amur Region dated 12/27/2022 in the case 1-96/2022 on charges of Evgeny Vladimirovich Bitusov and Leonid Ivanovich Druzhinin of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Bitusov Evgeny Vladimirovich: Your Honor and dear court! Maybe my last word will be very different from what the defendants usually talk about. But I am not an ordinary defendant either, since the article and the case are also unusual. During the preparation, I did not know what could or should be said, so I decided to see what my co-believers were talking about, be...

 RUSSIA Grateful to Serve Jehovah April 23, 2024 The Pervomayskiy District Court of Izhevsk in the Udmurtian Republic will soon announce its verdict in the case involving Brothers Yevgeniy Stefanidin and Aleksandr Votyakov. The prosecutor has yet to request a potential sentence. Profiles Yevgeniy Stefanidin Born: 1989 (Izhevsk) Biography: Works in commercial real estate Yevgeniy was raised as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. When he was ten years old, his grandmother died. The resurrection hope drew him even closer to Jehovah. Baptized in 2006 Married Marina in 2011. They have a daughter Yevgeniy was diagnosed with cancer in 2022 Personal Comments What has helped you to maintain a positive outlook while being persecuted? When I take the time to appreciate my many daily blessings, I am much more joyful. I also remind myself that although Jehovah is allowing me to be persecuted, he is not to blame. He will soon right all the wrongs that have been done to his faithful servants. It is also ...

 RUSSIA  In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, a Court Gave a Married Couple of Jehovah's Witnesses a 2-year Suspended Sentence for Their Faith April 23, 2024 Kamchatka Territory On April 22, 2024, Ivan Pantyashin, judge of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy City Court, sentenced the Chechulins to 2 years suspended sentence with a probation period of 3 years and 6 months of additional restrictions for each for talking about the Bible. Believers do not agree with this decision and can appeal the verdict. Sergey, 55, who grew up in an orphanage, works as a repairman in a heat supply organization, and 45-year-old Yelena works as a nurse. The Chechulins learned about the criminal prosecution in October 2022 during interrogation at the Investigative Committee, where they were taken after a search in their home. The spouses were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. The investigation lasted 1 year and 3 months. It took the court 3 months to find the believers guilty....

 RUSSIA  Leonid Druzhinin's last word in the Zee December 27, 2022 Amur region From the courtroom "Even the interrogations of prosecution witnesses show that there has never been any extremism in my actions," Druzhinin said in his last word, "and in principle there cannot be, since it contradicts our faith." Transcript of the court session in the Zeisky District Court of the Amur Region dated 12/27/2022 in the case 1-96/2022 on charges of Leonid Ivanovich Druzhinin and Evgeny Vladimirovich Bitusov of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Druzhinin Leonid Ivanovich: This is my first time at a trial in the status of a defendant. As you already know, I am a Jehovah's Witness. Jehovah's Witnesses fulfill the commandments of God written in the Bible. One of these commandments reads: "Thank you for everything. This is what God expects from the followers of Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18)...