The last word of the defendant Mikhail Reshetnikov in Barnaul

 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 court sessions and supported me.

I thank you, Your Honor, for your patience and for the calm working atmosphere throughout the entire process. I would like to thank the secretaries who treated us with respect.

I want to appeal to the prosecutor. As for my case, I do not agree with the unsubstantiated conclusions in the indictment. But I also know that you are engaged in useful work for society, and I would like to express my gratitude to you for doing such work.

I say thank you, our lawyers. We are grateful for your tireless work: for visits and consultations, for attending court sessions, for petitions and assistance. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I would like to tell you a little about myself. My mother was a believer, and I was also interested in learning what is written in the Bible, what needs to be done to please God. Our family lived in a taiga village in the Tomsk region, and it was difficult to get a Bible somewhere. The family consisted of nine people: father and mother and seven of us children. Mom was a housewife. At the age of 16, I was already working with my father to feed a large family. Since childhood, I have been taught hard work, since I was the eldest of the children. Working in the forest industry in the taiga is not easy, but I have always worked hard, for which I received commendations and medals. After retiring, I received a labor veteran's certificate.

In 1972, I moved to Barnaul and got married there. Two children were born: a daughter and a son. I already had the opportunity to buy a Bible here, which I did. Reading it, I didn't understand much of what was written in it. I started going to the Orthodox church, but even there I did not get answers to my questions. Listening to the chants and prayers, I couldn't make out or understand anything either. So the years passed.

In 1998, my wife and I got a knock on the door. I saw people on the threshold, they had a Bible in their hands. They said they were Jehovah's Witnesses (I had never heard of them before) and offered to study the Bible. I had a lot of questions for them. For example, I was worried about the doctrine of hell. They answered my questions using the Bible. So on the very first day I started studying the Bible. I was impressed by the friendliness of Jehovah's Witnesses. I saw that they were doing what Jesus Christ taught… Also, by studying the Bible, I learned what God personally requires of me.

To become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I had to meet the requirements set out in the Bible. Therefore, I needed to get rid of the habit of swearing. Having overcome this and other bad habits, although it was not easy, I was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. For almost 25 years now, I have never seen any deception, hypocrisy, theft, or slander among God's people. Yes, Jehovah's people are a happy people, because our God is a happy God.

When the arrests of brothers and sisters began (as Jehovah's Witnesses call co—religionists - ed.), I realized that this fate could befall me. I knew that all those who serve Jehovah would go through trials, as it was with Jesus, the apostles and other servants of God. And so it happened. At the same time, this situation helped me to develop such a quality as self-control to an even greater extent. It helps in difficult situations not to get lost and make sound decisions, not to get annoyed and talk respectfully, as well as remain faithful to Jehovah.

The love for Jehovah and the examples of my dear brothers and sisters, who, while in prison, sanctify the name of God with their steadfastness and behavior, help me not to give up further.

Your Honor, while the trial was underway, we listened to audio recordings of Christian worship services for almost six months. What other judge in the city of Barnaul was able to attend meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses so many times? Which judge has heard songs praising God? Which of the judges heard joint prayers to the God Jehovah? Who was lucky enough to hear speeches about mercy, generosity, gentleness and love for others? You also attended a Bible study class and even a Jehovah's Witness congress. At these meetings — in songs, in prayers, in speeches — have you heard calls to break off family and family relations with those who are not Jehovah's Witnesses? Of course not, because we follow the advice given in the Bible. At the same time, the investigative authorities are unfairly accusing me of such appeals.

Your Honor, have you heard on these audio recordings that I incite religious strife? Again, no. Why? Because I build my life on biblical principles. One of them reads like this: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). You may ask, "Who is my neighbor?" These are all those who are around us, and it doesn't matter what their skin color is, what their nationality and religion are. In this case, everyone who is in this room right now… Have you heard any hint that I have negatively assessed people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses? And again, the answer is no. How can I negatively evaluate or judge someone when such guidance is given in the Word of God: "Do not judge, so that you will not be judged"? (Matthew 7:1, 2)

Your Honor, I also want to draw attention to another false accusation — that I do not recognize the state authorities. Your Honor, have you heard on audio recordings of Jehovah's Witnesses worship services that I or someone else expressed ideas related to the non-recognition of state bodies? The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, chapter 13, verse 1: "Let every soul be submissive to the highest authorities." Therefore, Jehovah's Witnesses respect the state, as well as the government and local authorities.

And I would also like to comment on the position taken by the investigative authorities. In their opinion, if we studied the Bible and prayed at home, and did not gather together, it would not be extremism. However, the Bible gives a command for Christians: "Let us be attentive to each other, encouraging love and good deeds. Let us not leave our assembly, as is the custom of some, but let us exhort one another, and the more so the more you see the approach of that day" (Hebrews 10:24, 25) [...]

I also want to draw the court's attention to the families of Jehovah's Witnesses. They try not only to keep the family together, but also to create a happy atmosphere in it. Husbands take a responsible approach to the responsibility of providing for the family financially. It is no secret that moral issues are very important for Witnesses. Most likely, the court knows that they do not smoke, do not take drugs, do not abuse alcoholic beverages and do not swear — the Word of God encourages them to do this.

Unfortunately, in modern families, husbands and wives often disrespect each other, humiliate, insult their spouses, and use obscene language. What can help such families? The application of the principles set forth in the Word of God, for example, such as: "Let all irritation and rage, and anger, and shouting, and slander with all malice be removed from you; but be kind to one another, compassionate, forgive one another, just as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31, 32) [...] Despite such excellent advice, law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor consider our faith to be extremism.

Dear Court, we are introducing people to the principles from the Word of God. Is this extremism? The Bible shows how to achieve eternal life, which God promised, who cannot lie. Many people do not believe this and even laugh. But think about this. Most likely, there are those in the hall who remember the 1970s. If you had been told at that time that there would be tablets, computers, smartphones in the future, as well as what functions they would be able to perform, would you have believed it? Probably not, it seemed fantastic at the time. But now it won't surprise anyone. Why do people not believe in God's promise to give them eternal life?

Many people are convinced that God sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth. Why did he do it? Jesus himself said this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Please note that God loved the world, that is, all people, and gave his beloved Son so that people would have eternal life. But there is one condition — to believe in Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to believe? The answer is found in Matthew, chapter 7, verses 21-23: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord! Lord!" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my heavenly Father. Many will say to Me that Day, "Lord! God! Have we not prophesied in Your name? And wasn't it in Your name that demons were cast out? And wasn't it in Your name that many miracles were performed?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; get away from Me, you who do iniquity." So, the one who fulfills the will of God can hope for a wonderful future.

Dear Court, in my last word you have heard irrefutable evidence of my innocence in what the investigating authorities accuse me of. There is no evidence that I am the head of the Jehovah's Witnesses NGO in Barnaul or participated in the activities of this organization. The prosecution has never proved that I spoke negatively about people who are not Jehovah's Witnesses, called for the severance of family relations or promoted the superiority of a person by religious affiliation. [...] Have there been calls to refuse medical intervention? Have there been statements about the non-recognition of state and local government bodies? The prosecution witnesses answered "no" to all questions. The conclusions contained in the indictment are not true. This is evidenced by the facts from the criminal case, from the examinations, as well as from the words of the witnesses questioned in court.

Your Honor, you have listened to the prosecution and the defense. Now I ask you to analyze the facts and make a fair decision — to acquit me!

Summary of the case

Region:

Altai Territory

Locality:

Barnaul

What is suspected:

According to the investigation, "he carried out activities to support the existence of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses "Barnaul", including by conducting interviews... as well as direct participation in events held by representatives of this organization."

Criminal case number:

12107010001000020

Case initiated:

May 25, 2021

Current stage of the case:

Proceedings in the court of first instance

Investigating:

The Federal Security Service of Russia in the Altai Territory

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Case number in court:

1-3/2024 (1-68/2023; 1-826/2022)

The Court of First Instance:

Leninsky District Court of Barnaul, Altai Territory

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Lyubov Kurushina