The last word of the defendant Zoya Pavlova in Alatyr

 RUSSIA 

The last word of the defendant Zoya Pavlova in Alatyr

December 12, 2022

Chuvashia

From the courtroom

In her last word, the believer spoke about the biblical advice that helped her become friendlier and calmer. "If I share these helpful tips with others, will I do better or worse for them? "What is it?" she asked. "The investigation considers this a crime."

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 Pavlova Zoya Vasilyevna 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.

Pavlova Zoya Vasilyevna:

Dear Court, Your Honor! First of all, I want to thank you for your attentive attitude to the case. It felt like you wanted to figure it out and understand its essence. I also want to thank our lawyers for their very good attitude and clarification of various legal issues.

Thanks to my brothers and sisters, they constantly supported me. It was so nice to feel their love and care. But most of all, I want to thank my God Jehovah, who entrusted me not only to be his servant, but also to speak up for him.

If you pay attention to the trial itself and the accusation, then the key thing is that I discussed biblical thoughts with my co-religionists. I had no idea that discussing the Bible together could be regarded as extremism. If you pay attention to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, it did not prohibit the joint confession of faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. And joint meetings with co-religionists relate to a creed, not some kind of legal discussion.

Why did I meet with my co-religionists? The Bible encourages me to do this. In Hebrews 10:24, 25 it is written: "Let us be attentive to one another, encouraging love and good deeds; let us not leave our assembly." And in 1 Corinthians 14:26 we read: "So, what about the brethren? When you come together, and each of you has a Psalm, there is a teaching, there is a language, there is a revelation, there is an interpretation, let all this be for edification." Or Acts 2:42: "And they were constantly in the teaching of the apostles, and in communion, and in breaking bread, and in prayer." As we can see from the Bible, Christians have always gathered to discuss the Holy Scriptures together, to pray and sing songs. We didn't bring anything new. Such meetings helped us to comprehend the depth of God's Word and encouraged us to do good deeds.

According to investigators, any meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses can be interpreted as the resumption of the activities of an organization that was liquidated. But where is the logic and common sense here? If Jehovah's Witnesses stop gathering together, then how can they exercise the right provided for by the Constitution of our country, the right to profess their beliefs independently or jointly with others?

Can advice from the Bible make someone worse? For example, as it is written: "This is how husbands should love their wives like their bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself. Wives should obey their husbands as to the Lord"; "Let not a single rotten word come out of your mouth, but only useful for strengthening"; "Be kind to each other, deeply compassionate, forgive each other generously, as God generously forgave you through Christ"; "Deal with people in everything whatever you want them to do to you." Dear court, if I share these useful tips with others, will I do better or worse for them? The investigation considers this a crime, because it is allegedly aimed at resuming the activities of an organization that has been liquidated. Any believer will share what they have learned and meet with their friends to discuss and communicate.

I want to briefly tell you what motivated me to study the Bible. The fact is that I grew up in an orphanage. My parents died when I was two years old. I really wanted to see them and learn about them. The Bible, in Acts 24:15, says: "Having hope in God that there will be a resurrection of the dead, the righteous and the unrighteous, that they themselves expect it." I was very touched that I would see them in a new world. It's so great! I am also sure that God will do this, because when Jesus Christ lived on earth, he resurrected people.

Having received accurate knowledge from the Bible, I changed my life so as to gain the approval of Jehovah God. The Bible sets out his standards that help me lead a meaningful, happy life. Jehovah teaches to be obedient to the authorities. In Romans 13:1, 5 it is written: "Let every soul be submissive to the highest authorities. For there is no authority not from God. The existing authorities are established by God. And therefore it is necessary to obey not only out of fear of punishment, but also out of conscience."

My love for Jehovah motivates me to respect and observe biblical norms. I became patient, friendly, calm. I really appreciate my precious relationship with Jehovah. I learn wisdom and love from him in order to find good relationships with others. Jehovah teaches not to harm a person either by word or deed. Ephesians 4:31 says: "All irritation and rage, and anger, and shouting, and slander with all malice, let them be removed from you." I try to live and act in accordance with these words. And this is only a small part of the biblical knowledge. Luke 6:45 says, "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

As I read the Bible, I try to fill my heart with these wonderful promises and wonderful advice from God. And I want to tell other people about them. This is what any believer should do. Jesus himself said, "Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit." I am doing this according to God's command. When I talked to people about God, I had no purpose to incite hatred or enmity, to humiliate a person on the grounds of gender, race, nationality, attitude to religion, or to continue the activities of any organization. I just wanted to draw attention to the qualities of God, his mercy and love.

Your Honor! I want to emphasize once again that I am not an extremist and have never been one. What I am accused of is a mistake. I ask you to look into this matter. I don't consider myself guilty.

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