The last word of the defendant Nina Martynova in Alatyr

 RUSSIA 

The last word of the defendant Nina Martynova in Alatyr

December 12, 2022

Chuvashia

From the courtroom

In her last speech, the believer stressed that Jehovah's Witnesses are politically neutral and respect state authority: "Jesus assured Pilate that his Kingdom does not pose a threat to his rule. And modern Jehovah's Witnesses pose no threat to the government."

Transcript of the court session in the Alatyrsky District Court of the Chuvash Republic dated 12.12.2022 in the case 1-114/2022 on charges of Martynova Nina Leontievna and others. of committing a crime under Part 1.1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Martynova Nina Leontievna:

Dear Court, Your Honor. Before I say my last word, I would like to thank you. Throughout the whole process, you have been attentive to us. You immediately created a respectful, calm atmosphere, made sure that everything was organized, and gave enough time to prepare for the defense and for the testimony, and most importantly for the fact that you always correctly pronounced the name of the Creator — Jehovah.

I am also grateful to you, the prosecution. After all, you did your job diligently, it was obvious. I am also grateful to our defenders for their careful and attentive attitude to this case.

Our wonderful friends who came to every meeting were a huge support for us. They took time off from work, made arrangements with their partners to switch shifts. It's worth a lot. I am grateful not only to those who attended the hearings, but also to everyone who prayed for us, wrote us words of support, and called us. They are a valuable gift from Jehovah that warms the hearts.

The greatest thanks to my heavenly Father, Jehovah. He was always there for me. I've seen him many times— he's my friend. As promised, he stood next to me and held my right hand. Therefore, throughout the whole time, I felt calm and peace in my heart.

One well-known judge said: "Laws are issued and enforced in order to prevent actions that harm others, and not to force anyone to compromise their conscience, especially if this conscience is brought up in accordance with the Word of Jehovah God." If someone reads the Bible, believes in Jehovah God, loves his neighbor, sings religious songs, it cannot harm anyone.

If a person sincerely prays to God, how can this undermine the foundations of the security of the state?! Most people on earth pray. The prayer "Our Father" is known all over the world. This is an exemplary prayer. I've known her for a long time, since childhood. My mom taught it to me. Did she have extremist motives? No! This prayer begins like this: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." What name should be hallowed? This is not a secret, the Bible explicitly says in Psalm 83:18: "So that people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, are the one Supreme over the whole earth."

Should we be surprised that the Almighty has a name? Everyone has a name. Why shouldn't he have it?! We know the name of the son, why not know the name of the Father? By and large, it's not for us to decide. He chose his own name and was honored to reveal it to us. When I learned the name of God and began to address him by name, my prayers became more meaningful.

Why did the Creator choose the name Jehovah for himself? This name means "he gives to become." That is, he is able to carry out everything he has planned, and it will be as he said. How can it harm someone?

The prayer goes on to say: "Thy kingdom come." I learned from the Bible that the kingdom is, in modern terms, the government. It is located in heaven, so it is also called the heavenly kingdom. Jehovah appointed his son, Jesus Christ, as the ruler in it. Jesus is the ideal ruler, the kind that people dream of: sensitive, fair, kind. He gave his life for his subjects. In Revelation 19:16, he is called "King of kings and Lord of Lords." Yes, he surpasses all earthly kings, because he was chosen and supported by Jehovah himself! He also has his own "ministers" — 144,000 people taken from earth, taken to heaven. They have lived the same life as us, and they know firsthand about all the difficulties we face here. That's why they understand us humans and sympathize with us. Is it worth being afraid of the Kingdom of God? Does it threaten the basic security of any country?

When the authorities captured Jesus Christ in the first century, he was brought to Pilate and he interrogated him: "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus replied: "My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight for me so that I would not be betrayed to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here" (John 18:34-36). Jesus assured Pilate that his kingdom posed no threat to his rule. And modern Jehovah's Witnesses pose no threat to the government. We do not raise uprisings, we do not go to rallies, we do not spread negative information about the authorities, we do not call for their overthrow. On the contrary, we obey the authorities, speak of them with deep respect and even pray for their well-being. In the First Epistle to Timothy, in the 2nd chapter, in the 1st and 2nd verses, it says: "So, first of all, I ask you to make prayers, supplication, supplication, thanksgiving for all people, for kings and for all rulers, so that we may lead a quiet and serene life in all piety and cleanliness."

Why did God create his government? In the prayer "Our Father" it is said about this: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The kingdom of God will make sure that the Creator's plan is fulfilled on earth. The Bible records what Jehovah intended. For example: "The righteous will inherit the earth and will live on it forever"; "And he will judge the nations and rebuke many tribes; and they will beat their balls into plowshares and their spears into sickles, the people will not lift up the sword against the people, and they will no longer learn to fight"; "There will be an abundance of bread on the earth, on he will be in abundance on the tops of the mountains"; "And none of the inhabitants will say, "I am sick." Don't people want to live like this? They want it with all their heart. If I tell someone about these kind promises, what kind of threat can I see in this?

And the last request in an exemplary prayer: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." We recognize that we need God's forgiveness, that we sinful people are prone to succumb to temptations. We do not consider ourselves sinless, exceptional, better than other people. Of course not!

The question may arise: if Jehovah's Witnesses are so good, why are they being persecuted? Could it be that a good, honest person has been unfairly accused? Has there never been such a thing in history?

Every year, on October 30, our country celebrates the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repression. Thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses have previously been recognized by Presidential Decree as victims of political repression for their persecution in the Soviet Union (the Law of the RSFSR "On Rehabilitation of victims of Political Repression" dated 18.10.1991, No. 1761-1 and the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On measures for the rehabilitation of clergy and believers who became victims of unjustified repression" dated 03/14/1996, No. 378). I would like not to become such a victim.

The most striking example of a person being hated for no reason is the example of Jesus Christ. Why was he sentenced to death? Did he kill someone? No! He has committed no sin. And although it was clear to everyone that Jesus was innocent, Pontius Pilate did not dare to acquit him. He just succumbed to the pressure of the crowd. So there is nothing new in the fact that decent, law-abiding people are accused of extremism. In the Second Epistle to Timothy, it was predicted: "All who wish to live by showing devotion to God in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Because "our opponent, the Devil, walks like a roaring lion, and is looking for someone to devour." Jehovah is stronger than the Devil, he strengthens us, gives us strength and joy.

I want to briefly tell you why I became a Jehovah's Witness. When my daughter got sick at the age of five, I was desperate. She went everywhere, spent a lot of money, but it only got worse. Once I turned to a priest, he told me that it was "God who punished you for your past mistakes." At the same time, he did not answer any of my questions, saying: "This is a secret, we are not allowed to know."

I was disappointed in religion, a void formed in my soul, I felt rejected. I was on edge.… And one day a woman came up to me. I asked the same questions as the priest, and noticed that she answered each of them with the help of the Bible. I had a revolution in my mind. It was not the opinion of any person or organization, it was the opinion of God himself.

His promises especially touched me: "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them; they will be his people, and God himself will be with them their God; And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death; There will be no more crying, no more crying, no more sickness; for the former has passed away" (Revelation 21:3, 4).

You know, Your Honor, studying the Bible has changed my life for the better in a fundamental way. I am constantly convinced that we have a lot in common: when people lose hope, they have nothing left. But by studying the Bible, you will learn why people die, why they suffer, you will learn that everything is under control and the world is not falling into the abyss. A real personal relationship with the supreme Lord of the universe gives us hope.

What I am accused of is a mistake. I ask you to look into this matter. I am not innocent, and I have no sense of guilt. I am clean before God and the law. I beg you, Your Honor, do not separate my daughter and me, this is a disaster for her. I have heard that you are fair, and I am sure that you will show mercy to us, to my family. Her future life depends on your decision.

Summary of the case

Region:

Chuvashia

Locality:

Alatyr

What is suspected:

According to the investigation, "he organized religious performances and worship services, carried out preaching activities in order to spread the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Criminal case number:

12107970001000027

Case initiated:

June 16, 2021

Current stage of the case:

The verdict has entered into force

Investigating:

The investigative department of the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Chuvash Republic

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)

The number of the case in court:

1-114/2022

The Court of First Instance:

Alatyrsky District Court of the Chuvash Republic

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Ivan Konchulizov