An appeal in Moscow confirmed the verdict of five Jehovah's Witnesses. Believers were sent to the colony for terms from 4 to 6 years

 RUSSIA 

 

An appeal in Moscow confirmed the verdict of five Jehovah's Witnesses. Believers were sent to the colony for terms from 4 to 6 years

April 11, 2024 Moscow


According to the decision of the Moscow City Court, on April 10, 2024, the sentence of Ivan Tchaikovsky, Yuri Chernyshev, Vitaly Komarov, Sergei Shatalov and Vardan Zakaryan came into force with minor changes. More than 150 people came to support the faithful at the courthouse, but only about 20 were allowed into the courtroom.


The criminal prosecution has been going on for about 3.5 years. In November 2020, security forces staged a high-profile mass raid on the homes of believers in Moscow. One of them, Vardan Zakaryan, was beaten during the raid, which led to him being hospitalized. The men were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and becoming involved in it because of conversations about the Bible with an embedded agent who feigned interest in this book.


All five have been in custody since the verdict was announced on March 31, 2023. Tchaikovsky, Chernyshov, Komarov and Shatalov received 6 years and 3 months, and Zakaryan — 4 years and 3 months of imprisonment in a general regime colony with deprivation of the right to lead or participate in the work of public organizations for 3 years, not to participate in mass events, to be registered twice a month with the state body for supervision of punishment, with a restriction of freedom for 1 year. During the period of restriction of freedom, the court also forbade believers to travel outside Moscow and the Moscow region.


"The sentence imposed is actually a way to prohibit ... practicing one's non—prohibited religion in a way not prohibited by law," lawyer Ivan Tchaikovsky's complaint against the verdict notes. The defense side emphasizes that the case does not indicate any actions containing signs of extremism.


The board of appeal decided to slightly change the sentence: it allowed the convicts, after serving the main part of the sentence, to choose where to live themselves, but ordered them not to leave the borders of this municipality for 1 year. In addition, the court credited Zakaryan for the period of detention and hospitalization at the rate of 1 day for 1.5. The terms of imprisonment remained unchanged.


The European Union and the United Nations have repeatedly called on the Russian authorities to stop persecuting citizens for practicing religion, and the European Court of Human Rights has fully acquitted Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.


The case of Tchaikovsky and others. in Moscow


A brief history of the case


In November 2020, a large—scale special operation took place in Moscow - 22 searches in the houses of Jehovah's Witnesses. Vardan Zakaryan was hospitalized due to injuries inflicted by the security forces. He, Vitaly Komarov, Yuri Chernyshev, Ivan Tchaikovsky and Sergei Shatalov were placed in isolation at 38 Petrovka Street. Four believers were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, and Zakaryan was accused of involvement in it. It is noteworthy that Tchaikovsky in 2010, through the ECHR, obtained compensation for violations of his rights due to the illegal liquidation of the Moscow community of Jehovah's Witnesses. In the winter of 2022, the case went to court. The accusation was based on the testimony of the FSB agent "Makarov", who feigned interest in the Bible. In March 2023, the court sentenced Tchaikovsky, Komarov, Chernyshev and Shatalov to 6 years and 3 months in a penal colony; Zakaryan was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in a penal colony. The appeal approved this decision in April 2024.


Summary of the case


Region:

Moscow

Locality:

Moscow

Criminal case number:

12002450046000077

Case initiated:

November 24, 2020

Current stage of the case:

The verdict has entered into force

Investigating:

GSU IC for Moscow

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)

Case number in court:

01-0003/2023 (01-0237/2022)

Court:

Babushkinsky District Court of Moscow

Judge:

Evgenia Babinova


On the photo:


1. From left to right: Vitaly Komarov, Sergey Shatalov, Vardan Zakaryan, Yuri Chernyshev and Ivan Tchaikovsky at the appeal hearing, April 10, 2024

2. The believers were supported by their family members.

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