The Chelyabinsk Regional court reduced the term of imprisonment of Evgeny Bushev in a penal colony from 7 to 6 years

 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, no evidence was presented in court sessions that Bushev's actions or intentions were aimed at inciting hatred and enmity. As a result, "as a result of a miscarriage of justice, a believer was convicted only for professing beliefs based on the Bible and peacefully practicing his Christian faith as a Jehovah's Witness."


Before the verdict was announced in the Kalininsky District Court of Chelyabinsk, Yevgeny Bushev said in his last word: "I am very sorry that the prosecutor, having requested punishment… in fact, he put me on a par with people who committed premeditated murder, because that's exactly the term they give for this crime."


Human rights activists and scientists note that such an attitude towards citizens violates their natural right to freedom of conscience and religion. From 2017 to the present, Russian law enforcement officers have already prosecuted 804 people professing the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses.


The Bushev case in Chelyabinsk


A brief history of the case


On the evening of September 2022, Evgeny Bushev from Chelyabinsk was visiting a friend when security forces invaded with a search. As it turned out, the UK suspected Yevgeny of participating in the activities of an extremist organization, and a criminal case was opened against him. The believer was taken home for a search, and the next day he was charged with a recognizance not to leave. Later, the article of the charge was reclassified to the organization of the activities of an extremist organization. According to investigator Alexander Chepenko, Bushev is guilty of extremism because he attended the services of Jehovah's Witnesses and talked to people about the Bible. Testimony against the believer was given by an employee of the Russian Guard, who portrayed an interest in the Bible. In August 2023, the court accepted the case materials for consideration, and two months later sentenced the believer to 7 years of real imprisonment. In April 2024, an appeal reduced this period to 6 years in prison.


Summary of the case


Region:

Chelyabinsk region

Locality:

Chelyabinsk

What is suspected of:

"Took deliberate active actions of an organizational nature aimed at continuing the illegal activities of a prohibited religious organization" (from the indictment)

Criminal case number:

12202750030000030

Case initiated:

August 24, 2022

Current stage of the case:

the verdict has entered into force

Investigating:

The Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee for the Chelyabinsk region

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

1-982/2023

Court of first instance:

Kalininsky District Court of Chelyabinsk

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Anton Yerofeyev


On the photo: 


1. Evgeny Bushev, while in custody, participates in the meeting via video conference call. April 25, 2024.

2. The court admitted 13 listeners to the hall who came to support the believer. April 25, 2024.

3, 4. Eugene manages to see his friends via video link. April 25, 2024.

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