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 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Sergei Shulyarenko in Birobidzhan December 16, 2022 Jewish JSC From the courtroom Speaking with the last word before the court, Sergei Shulyarenko explained that extremism is alien to Jehovah's Witnesses. He said, "I feel calm because I am not being judged for evil deeds, but for good ones… I have not committed a crime related to extremism not only in my actions, but even in my thoughts." Transcript of the court session in the Birobidzhan District Court of the EAO dated 12/16/2022 in the case № 1-8/2022 (1-65/2021; 1-609/2020) on the charges of Sergei Alexandrovich Shulyarenko and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2, Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Sergey Alexandrovich Shulyarenko: Your Honor, I ask you to listen to me carefully. I am deeply convinced that this trial, like many others in Russia, is historical, because one of the biblical prophecies expressed by Jesus Ch

 RUSSIA “Looking Beyond My Problems” May 9, 2024 The Lesosibirsk City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory will soon announce its verdict in the case involving Brother Andrey Shiyan. The prosecutor has yet to request a potential sentence. Profile Andrey Shiyan Born: 1969 (Lesosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory) Biography: Worked as a customs specialist Married Inna in 1992. They have one daughter Inna, her mother, and her younger brother began to study with Jehovah’s Witnesses first. Andrey agreed to attend a meeting and was impressed by the clear logic found in the Bible Inna was baptized in 2001, and Andrey in 2002 Personal Comments What helps you to maintain your peace of mind? I have grown to appreciate what is written at Romans 15:13: “May the God who gives hope fill you with all joy and peace by your trusting in him, so that you may abound in hope with power of holy spirit.” Meditating on my hope is what helps me to cope. Whenever I see the clouds of fear or doubt building, I take a me

 A Pseudo-Investigation Criticizes Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Shunning 05/09/2024 Rosie Luther’s article published in “Pastoral Psychology” may be many different things but is not scientific research. by Massimo Introvigne An article published by Rosie Luther in the journal “Pastoral Psychology” (volume 72, 2023, 105–20) promises to reveal “What Happens to Those Who Exit Jehovah’s Witnesses: An Investigation of the Impact of Shunning.” Luther currently describes herself on LinkedIn as “Research assistant on an exploratory project examining emotional learning and transcranial direct stimulation” at Butler Hospital, Brown University, and was when she wrote the article a “part-time Psychology Department Tutor” at Eastern Connecticut State University. The problem with this article is that, whatever else it may be, it is not the account of a scientific investigation. Its stated objective was to examine the effect of “shunning” as practiced by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The latter recommend that cur

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Anatoly Sarychev in Barnaul May 3, 2024 Altai Territory Anatoly Sarychev tells the court about his difficult life, the loss of his children and what faith in God gave him. He says, "Knowing about God and his plans has given me back the desire to live." Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Barnaul, Altai Territory dated 05/03/2024 in the case 1-3/2024 on charges of Anatoly Nikolaevich Sarychev and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Anatoly Nikolaevich Sarychev: I would like to begin my last word with words of gratitude to all those present for participating in this difficult task. Thank you, Your Honor, for the respectful and objective conduct of the judicial investigation and for the attitude to all participants in the process and to me in particular. Thank you to the Public Prosecutor for a calm and balanced attitude towards doing his

 RUSSIA Brother Anton Virich Sentenced to Six Years and Two Months in Prison May 7, 2024 On April 25, 2024, the Pozharskiy District Court of the Primorye Territory convicted Brother Anton Virich and sentenced him to six years and two months in prison. He has been in detention since July 11, 2023, and will remain in custody. Profile Anton Virich Born: 1980 (Pervouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region) Biography: Worked as a sales manager He and his mother began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Anton realized how applying Bible principles improved his life. Baptized in 1994. His mother and father also became Jehovah’s Witnesses Married Liliya in 2007 No personal comments were available from Anton We are comforted to know that as we prove our love for Jehovah by enduring trials, we gain his approval and blessing.—James 1:12. Time Line February 11, 2021 Criminal case initiated November 9, 2021 Without his knowledge, Anton was criminally charged and travel restrictions were issued July 11, 2

 RUSSIA  Krasnodar Territory Court Upheld the Sentence to Danil Suvorov from Sochi for his Beliefs: 6 Years in Prison May 8, 2024 Krasnodar Territory On May 7, 2024, the Court of Appeal considered the complaint of Jehovah's Witness Danil Suvorov against the sentence for his faith. The panel of judges agreed that the 28-year-old believer is guilty of extremism and should serve his sentence of 6 years in a penal colony. In June 2023, Yekaterina Ostapenko, judge of the Central District Court of Sochi, found Danil Suvorov guilty of committing crimes under Parts 1.1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. By that time, the believer had spent almost two years in jail. Then for about a year he was behind bars awaiting an appeal. The verdict of the first instance was based on the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 20.04.2017 on the liquidation of legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, however, as emphasized in the ap

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Mikhail Reshetnikov in Barnaul May 3, 2024 Altai Territory The believer stated that he was being judged only for peacefully worshipping God together with others. "According to the investigation, if we had studied the Bible and prayed at home, and not gathered together, it would not have been extremism," he said. Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Barnaul dated 05/03/2024 in the case 1-3/2024 (1-68/2023; 1-826/2022) on the charges of Mikhail Nikolaevich Reshetnikov and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Reshetnikov Mikhail Nikolaevich: Dear court and all those present in the hall! First of all, I am grateful to my beloved wife Antonina. All this time, she took care of me both spiritually and physically. I am also grateful to my dear spiritual brothers and sisters for their loving care — despite the bad weather and frost, they came to c

 RUSSIA  “Jehovah Has Everything Under Control” May 6, 2024 The Khorolskiy District Court of the Primorye Territory will soon announce its verdict in the case involving Brother Boris Andreyev, Brother Anatoliy Li, and Sister Nataliya Sharapova. The prosecutor has yet to request a potential sentence. Profiles Boris Andreyev Born: 1951 (Monastyrishche, Primorye Territory) Biography: Worked as a dispatch agent for emergency services Having his questions answered directly from the Bible convinced him he had found the truth. Baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2004 Married Aleksandra in 2020 Personal Comments From Boris’ Wife, Aleksandra  How has your husband helped you to endure this challenging time? I remember one particularly difficult day after Boris had been detained. I felt emotionally crushed, and I broke down in tears. I described in a letter to Boris what had happened and how I felt. In his reply, he expressed understanding and sympathy. But most important, he reminded me of

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Yuri Kolotinsky in Barnaul May 3, 2024 Altai Territory Addressing the court, the believer asked the question: "Why did respectable, hardworking, caring for their marriage and their children, people who profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses for decades, turn into dangerous criminals?" Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Barnaul, Altai Territory dated 05/03/2024 in the case 1-3/2024 on charges of Kolotinsky Yuri Timofeevich and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Kolotinsky Yuri Timofeevich: Dear court and all those present in the hall! At the very beginning, I want to thank my God Jehovah for his support, which I have felt all this time. He strengthens my faith, for which I am judged. After all, He knows that I have not committed anything illegal and I am being held accountable only for my faith, which is not prohibited by law.

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Sergei Kardakov in Blagoveshchensk December 21, 2022 Amur region From the courtroom "During the judicial investigation, not a single piece of evidence was presented indicating that my life and worship of God in any way undermine the security of the state." Sergei Kardakov explained to the court why peaceful believers find themselves in the dock. Transcript of the court session in the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur region dated 12/21/2022 in the case 1-135/2022 on charges of Sergei Alekseevich Kardakov and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 of Articles 282.2 and 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Sergey Alekseevich Kardakov: "For this I was born and for this I came into the world to bear witness to the truth" (John 18:37). Jesus Christ said these words while standing in front of Pontius Pilate, the Roman ruler of Judea. Jesus did not come there of his own accord, and Pilate did not invite him

 RUSSIA  The Court in Luchegorsk Found Four Jehovah's Witnesses Guilty of Extremism. Two of Them Are Pensioners, and One is a Father of Three Minors May 3, 2024 Primorye Territory Luchegorsk residents Nikolay Dikhtyar, Andrey Lyakhov, Yuriy Ponomarenko, and Oleg Sergeyev were found guilty of organizing and participating in an extremist organization because they continued to gather for peaceful religious meetings with other Jehovah's Witnesses. The corresponding verdict was handed down on May 2, 2024 by the judge of the Pozharskiy District Court of the Primorye Territory, Mikhail Atroshko. Yuriy Ponomarenko received 6 years 6 months, Oleg Sergeyev — 6 years 4 months, Andrey Lyakhov — 2 years 8 months, Nikolay Dikhtyar — 2 years 6 months of suspended imprisonment. The probationary period is from 2.5 to 5 years. Believers were also assigned restriction of freedom for terms ranging from 1 to 1.5 years. Oleg Sergeev has three young children. "The most difficult thing for me was