The last word of the defendant Olga Opaleva in Spassk-Dalny

 RUSSIA 

The last word of the defendant Olga Opaleva in Spassk-Dalny

January 27, 2023

Primorsky Krai

From the courtroom

"Your Honor, I understand that the courts are called upon to fight crime, but I still did not understand what my crime was," Olga Opaleva said in her last word. "Phone conversations were listened to, videos were viewed, but nothing illegal was found in them."

Transcript of the court session in the Spassky District Court of Primorsky Krai dated 01/27/2023 in the case 1-4/2023 (1-4/2022; 1-7/2021; 1-70/2020; 1-570/2019) on charges of Olga Alekseevna Opaleva and others of committing a crime under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Opaleva Olga Alekseevna:

Dear Court, At the beginning of my last word, first of all, I thank my God Jehovah, who has supported me throughout this time and helped me overcome the difficulties I have faced. Therefore, I can say with confidence: "Jehovah is my helper" (Letter to Hebrews 13:5, 6).

I also want to express my gratitude to all participants in the process for the calm atmosphere in which all court sessions were held. Thank you, Your Honor, for paying special attention to me when I was ill. You were sympathetic to me and stopped the meeting. Your concern was evident in the fact that you provided me with a comfortable chair, knowing about my illness. And when everyone had to stand, you let me sit. Thank you for that.

I also want to express my gratitude to all the prosecutors who were at our trials. Special thanks to Pavel Vladimirovich for correctly pronouncing the name of Jehovah, as well as for trying to speak loudly and clearly, knowing that I can't hear well.

Irina Alexandrovna, many good words have been said to you, and I join them. On my own behalf, I would like to express my special gratitude for the attention you have shown to me, especially when I was ill. You sincerely sympathized with me.

I want to express my great thanks to my lawyer, Alexey Alexandrovich. He is not at this meeting today, but he was there for me and supported me throughout the investigation. He was the one who helped me understand legal issues and gave me advice. Thanks to him, I really felt protected.

Thank you also, Irina Stanislavovna. Although we have not been in the process for a long time, but you tried to understand the essence of the case and listened attentively to our arguments at court sessions. Thank you very much for taking this responsibly.

Your Honor, I understand that the courts are called to fight crime, but I still haven't figured out what my crime is. Phone conversations were listened to, videos were viewed, but nothing illegal was found in them. The prosecution insists that my fault is that I read the Bible and share it with others. This means that I am being judged for my faith in Jehovah God. Let's imagine if all people read the Bible and tried to live according to God's standards, then there would be no selfishness and envy, anger and hatred, and, as a result, there would be no crimes and wars! Then there would be peace between people. I'll explain why now.

In the book of Acts, the 10th chapter, the 34th and 35th verses, attention is drawn to one quality of God that everyone can learn: "Then Peter said, 'Now I know for sure that God is impartial and that he accepts a person from any nation if they fear him and do the right thing.'" That is, we learn to be impartial, like Jehovah, and not to distinguish between people based on race, social, or religious affiliation. Therefore, I have never called and will not call for a fight against anyone. In Matthew 5, verses 44 and 45, Jesus urges his disciples: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you will show that you are the children of your heavenly Father." Therefore, Your Honor, I continue to pray for you and for everyone in this Room.

Then what is my fault? That my friends and I want to live in peace with all people? That we recognize Jehovah God as the only true, living God? Your Honor, I have done nothing illegal! She only used her constitutional right to believe in Jehovah and profess her religion. This is not a crime!

By studying the Bible, I have improved my life. To do this, I had to put a lot of effort into overcoming bad habits, and I had enough of them. The Bible teaches us to change and acquire good qualities, and I really like it. It doesn't work out all at once, but I don't give up.

The Apostle Paul said: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Jehovah, my God, promised that he would give strength to get rid of what he considers evil. And he considers evil "all irritation and rage, and anger, and shouting, and slander with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31). And "let no rotten word come out of your mouth, but only good for edification in faith, so that it may bring grace to those who hear... But be kind to one another, deeply compassionate, forgive one another generously," Ephesians 4:29, 32 says.

All these words from the Bible were heard more than once at our meetings, and they clearly show what every Christian should work on. Qualities such as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, kindness, faith, gentleness, self-control." All this is the fruit of the spirit, and it is written in Galatians 5:22, 23. But are such qualities peculiar to extremism? These qualities exclude even the thought of showing malice, hatred or extremism towards people!

Therefore, I have no dislike for anyone, including Ivanova, who is my neighbor. And I had normal relations with all the neighbors, I didn't conflict with anyone. What motivated Ivanova when she wanted to study the Bible, I do not know. But listening to her testimony in court, I understood that her attitude towards me was biased. The accusations were unfounded and unsubstantiated.

For example, that we don't go to doctors. That's a lie! Your Honor, the proof of this is that I have been in the hospital more than once and have never refused treatment. Now about the clothes. According to Ivanova, we cannot wear bright clothes. This is another lie. The happy God Jehovah loves to give gifts to others, which is why he gave us so many colors.

I, like my God Jehovah, also love variety. Bright colors make me smile and be happy. But the main thing for Jehovah is not external beauty, but what a person has in his heart. "Your adornment should not be something external: braided hair, gold or expensive clothes, but what is inside, in the heart, the unfading beauty of a calm and gentle spirit, which is very valuable in the eyes of God" (1 Peter 3:3, 4). In a true Christian, this spirit is reflected in the tone of voice and manner, in which benevolence is felt, rather than defiance or inflexibility. [The Apostle] Peter advises not to focus on appearance. And in Proverbs 31:30 it says: "Attractiveness can be deceptive, and beauty can be fleeting, but a woman who fears Jehovah is worthy of praise."

Many of the prosecution's witnesses identify themselves as believers in God. They consider Jesus Christ to be God, but Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me" (John 6:44). Yes, Jehovah himself attracts people to his Son. How?

The Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Romans writes about this: "How can you believe in someone you have not heard of? How can I hear without a preacher? And how to preach if they are not sent? After all, it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bear the glad tidings of good!" (Romans 10:14,15). Jehovah attracts people to his Son by preaching the good news, through which this good news reaches everyone. And also with the help of the holy Spirit, which Jehovah uses to help understand and apply biblical truths in life.

In what sense is Jehovah attractive? The ancient Greek verb translated as "to attract" also has the meaning of "to drag", for example, a fishing net (John 21:6, 11). Does this mean that Jehovah is "dragging" us against our will? No.

Jehovah created us with free will, so he does not open our hearts by force (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20). I want to repeat the words said by someone in the testimony, and I agree with them: "There is no handle on the door of the human heart from the outside. The heart opens only from the inside." "Because Jehovah searches the hearts of all people and knows their thoughts and desires. If you seek him, you will find him, but if you turn away from him, he will reject you forever" (1 Chronicles 28:9).

What kind of recruitment are we talking about here, if Jehovah himself attracts people? He allowed me to participate in the fulfillment of the prophecy from Matthew 24:14: "The glad tidings of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole earth so that all nations will hear it, and then the end will come." And the Letter to the Corinthians says: "We do not trade God's word like many, but we speak sincerely as messengers of God, as followers of Christ before God" (2 Corinthians 2:15-17).

Therefore, Your Honor, I have not done anything extremist, because extremism is hatred, anger and intolerance towards others. It's alien to me. There is not a single fact in the case file proving the illegality of our actions, not a single manifestation even remotely resembling extremism! There are no victims in our case, but there are still victims. And they are in front of you — in the dock!

Dear court, I have no sense of guilt. My conscience is clear both before God and the state. I didn't do anything that I needed to be punished for. I am innocent, and I should be released. Therefore, I ask you to acquit me and attach my last word to the case file.

Summary of the case

Region:

Primorsky Krai

Locality:

Spassk-Dalny

What is suspected:

According to investigators, he illegally organized the activities of a religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses on the territory of Spassk-Dalny (with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on the liquidation of all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses)

Criminal case number:

11802050020000065

Case initiated:

November 12, 2018

Current stage of the case:

The verdict has entered into force

Investigating:

From the SU IC of Russia in the Primorsky Territory

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)

The number of the case in court:

1-4/2023 (1-4/2022; 1-7/2021; 1-70/2020; 1-570/2019)

The Court of First Instance:

Spassky District Court of Primorsky Krai

Judge of the Court of First instance:

Pavel Bobrovich