In three sessions, the court sentenced a 66-year-old Jehovah's Witness from Kholmskaya to 2.5 years in a penal colony for his beliefs

 RUSSIA 


In three sessions, the court sentenced a 66-year-old Jehovah's Witness from Kholmskaya to 2.5 years in a penal colony for his beliefs

July 8, 2024 Krasnodar Territory


On July 3, 2024, the judge of the Abinsk District Court, Sergei Mikhin, recognized the peaceful believer Valery Bailo as an extremist because of a discussion of the Bible via video conference call. The man pleads not guilty and can appeal the verdict.


Three months earlier, on April 2, the believer was called to the police department in the village of Akhtyrsky. From there, he was taken to the department of the Investigative Committee in Abinsk, where he was interrogated and then sent to the IVS. The next day, Bailo's house was searched. Electronic devices and literature were seized from him, which he found on the street and brought home to light the stove. Then the believer was placed in a pre-trial detention center.


The believer's case was submitted to the Abinsky District Court on June 13. The first meeting came as a surprise to Valery. They gave him a few minutes to pack, put him in a car and took him to court, so he could not prepare for the trial. And already at the third meeting, the judge pronounced a guilty verdict under part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in the activities of an extremist organization).


In the pre-trial detention center, Bailo's health has deteriorated: chronic diseases have worsened, he needs urgent dental care and knee surgery. The believer and his defender repeatedly sent requests for medical assistance to the administration of the pre-trial detention center, but it was never provided.


Before his arrest, Valery Bailo lived alone. After his arrest, his relatives discovered that a large amount of money had disappeared from the house, which was not seized during the search. In the past, the man has already faced the loss of property. At the time of the default, he lost all his savings and, together with his children, whom he raised alone after the death of his wife, was forced to live for 7 years on the territory of the plant without electricity and water.


Valery Bailo is not the first Jehovah's Witness whose case was considered by the Abinsky District Court in the shortest possible time, during which it is impossible to delve into the essence of the accusation and use the right to a full—fledged defense. Vasily Meleshko was sentenced to a real term in the colony in just 2 sessions, Alexander Ivshin — in 4. All 8 Jehovah's Witnesses, whose criminal cases were heard in the Abinsk District Court, received real terms of imprisonment for their faith.


The Bailo case is in Kholmskaya


A brief history of the case


In March 2024, a criminal case was opened against Valery Bailo under the article on participation in the activities of an extremist organization. A few days later, the man was summoned to the Investigative Committee for questioning, after which his house was searched, and the believer himself was placed in a pre-trial detention center. On June 26, 2024, the first court hearing was held, and on July 3, Bailo was sentenced to 2.5 years in a general regime colony.


Summary of the case


Region:

Krasnodarskiy kray

Locality:

Kholmskaya

What is suspected of:

"He disseminated the ideology of the extremist organization Jehovah's Witnesses, conducted and listened to lectures based on the religious literature Jehovah's Witnesses, revealing the religious ideological doctrine of the creed of the extremist organization Jehovah's Witnesses" (from the decision on bringing as an accused)

Criminal case number:

12402030017000016

Case initiated:

March 28, 2024

Current stage of the case:

The verdict has not entered into force

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Case number in court:

1-142/2024

Court:

Abinsky District Court of Krasnodar Territory

Judge:

Sergey Mikhin


In the photo: Valery Bailo in the courtroom shows the letters he received during his imprisonment.

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