In Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, a Court Gave a Married Couple of Jehovah's Witnesses a 2-year Suspended Sentence for Their Faith

 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.


Examinations of the conversations of believers in the case materials stated: "There are no statements expressing the motivation for hostile (violent) actions of one person or group of persons in relation to another person or group of persons." This did not prevent the prosecutor from requesting 6 years in a general regime colony for the couple.


Addressing the court with her last word, Yelena spoke about the basic beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses and explained why the accusations of continuing the activities of a banned legal entity are untenable: "Christians have come together for centuries to study the Holy Scriptures and discuss spiritual issues. What kind of congregation did the apostle Paul mean when he said "do not forsake your congregation"? Definitely not legal entities that are created in accordance with the laws of different countries. The words of the apostle Paul are 2000 years old, and the legal entities that we are accused of organizing appeared, existed for a short time and disappeared. But the worship of God is not."


"We are being prosecuted for our right to religious beliefs, guaranteed to us by the most important document of the country, the Constitution of the Russian Federation ... We are unfairly and unsubstantiated accused of enmity and hatred towards certain people unidentified by the prosecution. The name of not a single person has been named, whom we would insult, humiliate, incorrectly compare his views, beliefs, race or gender with our views and beliefs," Sergey said in court. "We could get angry, but we are not. We understand that every Christian's faith is tested differently."


Sergey expressed gratitude to those who support his family, especially fellow believers: "They often share encouraging thoughts, pray for us, send parcels. Letters are especially joyful. They come from different parts of the world. We are also strengthened by those who come to court hearings."


Russian law enforcement officers often initiate criminal cases against several family members at once. By November 2023, under this scheme, at least 71 families in 35 regions of the Russian Federation became easy prey for the security forces.


The case of the Chechulins in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky


Case History


Sergey Chechulin and his wife Yelena became defendants in another criminal case against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. In September 2022, the Investigative Committee opened a case against them on suspicion of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. A month later, their home was searched, and the spouses were placed under recognizance agreement. In November 2023, the case went to court. The prosecutor requested 6 years in prison for them. In April 2024, the couple was sentenced to 2 years suspended with a probation period of 3 years and 6 months of additional restrictions.


Criminal case


Region:

Kamchatka Territory

Locality:

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Suspected of:

"Convening meetings, organizing collective religious speeches and services, in accordance with the ideology of the religious association of Jehovah's Witnesses at these meetings ... Conducted routine training with other persons on the postulates of the religious association "Jehovah's Witnesses"" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)

Court case number:

12202300011000019

Case initiated:

September 25, 2022

Current case stage:

Appeal

Investigating:

Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kamchatka Territory

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-70/2024 (1-997/2023)

Court of First Instance:

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky City Court

 Judge of the Court of First Instance:

 Ivan Pantyashin


In the photo: Yelena and Sergey Chechulins.

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