In Goryachy Klyuch, the Court Sentenced Pavel Sidorenko to Three Years Suspended for Talking About the Bible. This is the 18th Jehovah's Witness Convicted of his Faith in the Krasnodar Territory

 RUSSIA


In Goryachy Klyuch, the Court Sentenced Pavel Sidorenko to Three Years Suspended for Talking About the Bible. This is the 18th Jehovah's Witness Convicted of his Faith in the Krasnodar Territory

April 4, 2024 Krasnodar Territory


Pavel Sidorenko, 66, a resident of a suburb of Krasnodar, received a suspended sentence of 3 years for talking to local residents about the Bible. The decision in his case on April 3, 2024, was made by the judge of the Goryachy Klyuch city court Zhanna Velichko.


In 2019, the believer brought an Orthodox encyclopedia to work to show his colleagues the name "Jehovah" contained in it. An acquaintance of Pavel Sidorenko handed over copies of the pages of this publication to the security forces. After that, the FSB began wiretapping telephone conversations and found out that he had talked about the Bible with several local residents. This was enough to initiate a criminal case against Sidorenko on extremism in January 2022. His house was searched, and the believer was placed under recognizance agreement.


In his final statement, Pavel Sydorenko emphasized: "My life as a whole, as well as the actions that I am accused of, are exclusively peaceful. My views as a believing Christian with 33 years of experience are based on love for God and love for people, and they have nothing to do with extremism."


Sidorenko lived in the Kuban all his life. He and his wife are now retired; due to criminal prosecution, the believer was fired from his job. "We both have a small pension. In addition, an adult daughter lives with us, who, due to illness, cannot work. I also can't get a job to have additional income," he said. "Our fellow believers provide us with financial assistance, if necessary, provide us with personal transport, bring food and medicine."


According to an OSCE statement dated July 28, 2020, "all people, including Jehovah's Witnesses, should be able to peacefully exercise their rights, including the right to freedom of religion, peaceful assembly, and expression without discrimination, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation." Nevertheless, the number of believers who are persecuted by the security forces continues to grow.


The case of Sidorenko in Krasnodar


Case History


The criminal case against pensioner Pavel Sidorenko was initiated in January 2022. The FSB equated the confession of faith in Jehovah God with participation in the activities of an extremist organization. In Pavel’s apartment in the village of Prigorodny, the security forces conducted a search, during which the daughter of the believer, suffering from a serious illness, experienced severe stress. Sidorenko was taken away for interrogation, after which he was released on recognizance not to leave. In February 2023, the case went to court. In April 2024, Sidorenko was given a 3-year suspended sentence.


Criminal case


Region:

Krasnodar Territory

Locality:

Krasnodar

Suspected of:

According to the investigation, "there was a criminal intent to commit illegal actions for further participation in the activities of a local religious organization prohibited by law."

Court case number:

12207030001000005

Case initiated:

January 20, 2022

Current case stage:

Appeal

Investigating:

Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Krasnodar Territory

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Court case number:

1-8/2024 (1-74/2023)

Court of First Instance:

Goryacheklyuchevskoy City Court of the Krasnodar Territory

 Judge of the Court of First Instance:

 Zhanna Velichko


In the photo: Pavel and Marina Sidorenko outside the courthouse. April 2024

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