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

 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 to feel inner peace," said the believer. "I was worried about what would happen to my wife and children if I was suddenly deprived of my liberty." Nikolay Dikhtyar is a pensioner, he is 69. He and his wife raised four children (three of their own and another boy who was left an orphan). Now he takes care of his wife, who suffered a stroke a few years ago. Yuriy Ponomarenko is also retired.

The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against the believers in July 2021. Ponomarenko was the first to fall under suspicion - he was included in the Rosfinmonitoring list and his accounts were blocked. A few months later, the others were charged.

The court considered the case for almost two years. One of the witnesses for the prosecution was FSB officer Prokhor Vasin, one of Ponomarenko's neighbors. Pretending to be interested in the Bible, he secretly videotaped conversations with the defendant. During the interrogation, Vasin admitted that no one had encouraged him to do anything illegal.

Believers insist on their innocence. "During four searches of my house, they searched for any records where the name Jehovah was mentioned," said Yuriy Ponomarenko, 65, speaking with his last statement before the verdict was announced. - It turns out that they want to condemn me precisely because I profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, which is not banned in Russia ... There is no evidence in the case file of incitement to hatred of others, i.e. extremism. They are not because I am following the biblical commandment, 'Be at peace with all men.'"

As Nikolay Dikhtyar stated, his conscience is clear before God, people and the law: "One thing I regret is that only at the age of 40 I became one of Jehovah's Witnesses, having learned the truth that saved me from many rash actions."

Andrey Lyakhov, in turn, said: "I do not deny that I am a believer, a Jehovah's Witness, that I read the Bible, sing songs and pray to God. But no legal entity has ever told me how to do this. My faith has never depended and does not depend on the presence or absence of a local religious organization in my city."

Oleg Sergeyev emphasized: "Studying the Bible, I came to the conclusion that those who want to please God must love not only their neighbors, but all people."

Earlier, Oleg Sergeyev's father, Sergey Sergeyev, was convicted for his faith on the basis of similar charges. As a result, 8 residents of Luchegorsk, a village with a population of just over 17 thousand people, have already been prosecuted for peaceful religious activities. A total of 58 Jehovah's Witnesses have faced criminal prosecution for their faith in the Primorye Territory.

The case of Ponomarenko and Others in Luchegorsk

Case History

In July 2021, Yuriy Ponomarenko’s house was searched in Luchegorsk. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case against him on suspicion of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. In November of the same year, as part of the Ponomarenko case, a new search was carried out - in the home of Oleg Sergeev. He was charged under the same article. In March 2022, 2 more defendants appeared in the case - Andrey Lyakhov and Nikolay Dikhtyar were charged with participating in the activities of an extremist organization. In June 2022, a criminal case against the believers went to court. Almost two years later, in May 2024, the believers were given suspended sentences ranging from 2.5 to 6.5 years.

Criminal case

Region:

Primorye Territory

Locality:

Luchegorsk

Court case number:

12102050012000058

Case initiated:

July 16, 2021

Current case stage:

Verdict did not take effect

Investigating:

Investigative Directorate for the city of Dalnerechensk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Territory

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-6/2024 (1-22/2023; 1-197/2022)

Court of First Instance:

Pozharsky District Court of Primorsky Krai

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Mikhail Atroshko

In the photo: Near the Pozharsky District Court, December 2023.