The Appeal in Samara Upheld the Harsh Sentence of One of Jehovah's Witnesses—Eight Years in a Penal Colony

 RUSSIA 

The Appeal in Samara Upheld the Harsh Sentence of One of Jehovah's Witnesses—Eight Years in a Penal Colony

May 21, 2024 Samara Region

On May 16, 2024, by the decision of the judicial board of the Samara Regional Court, the sentence to Aleksandr Chagan, 53, entered into force. He became the sixth in the list of Jehovah's Witnesses who were sent to a penal colony for such a long time by Russian courts.

"In my case, Christian values and Christian qualities were estimated at 8 years in a penal colony," the believer commented on this occasion. In his last speech, Chagan told the court of appeal that he has been living according to biblical standards for more than 20 years, and this has changed his life only for the better: "There is no reason to accuse someone who learns to show love for people and respect for their opinions, their life position of inciting hatred and enmity."

The believer intends to appeal the verdict and the decision of the appellate instance to the court of cassation. Currently, he is being held in the Detention Center No. 4 in the Samara Region and will soon be transferred to the place of serving his sentence.

Case of Chagan in Tolyatti

Case History

The first search in the family of Aleksandr and Yekaterina Chagan took place in March 2022. Six months later, in September, law enforcement officers again invaded their house, squeezing out the window. They put the household on the floor and handcuffed the head of the family, and then conducted a search. At night, Aleksandr was taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee, after which he was sent to the temporary detention facility. The court released him on a recognizance agreement. On the same day, Aleksandr became a defendant in a criminal case—he was accused of organizing the activities of an extremist community. In July 2023, the case went to court. A secret witness and experts testified at the trial, whose conclusions, according to the defense, were biased, unscientific and unfounded. In March 2024, he was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony. The appellate court upheld the verdict.

Criminal case

Region:

Samara Region

Locality:

Tolyatti

Court case number:

12202360032000539

Case initiated:

September 14, 2022

Current case stage:

The verdict entered into force

Investigating:

Central Interdistrict Investigation Department of Tolyatti of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Samara Region

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-46/2024 (1-527/2023)

Court of First Instance:

Central District Court of Tolyatti

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Victoria Gorbasheva