The last word of the defendant Yuri Gerashchenko in Krasnogvardeisky

 CRIMEA 

 

The last word of the defendant Yuri Gerashchenko in Krasnogvardeisky

June 26, 2024

Crimea

In his last word, the believer said: "As a servant of God, I perfectly understand why I am here. The biblical prophecy recorded in the Gospel is being fulfilled on me."

Transcript of the court session in the Krasnogvardeysky District Court of the Republic of Crimea dated 06/26/2024 in the case 1-8/2024 (1-259/2023) on charges of Yuri Petrovich Gerashchenko and Sergei Georgievich Parfenovich of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Gerashchenko Yuri Petrovich:

I want to start my last word with gratitude. Thank you, Your Honor, for your professional approach to my case. I am grateful to you, as well as to the public prosecutor and our lawyers, for all of you trying to understand the essence of our case. I want to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me: my dear wife Irina, as well as my friends and co-religionists. I am grateful to my neighbors and co-workers. During a difficult time for Irina and me, all of you were there for us and showed love to us with words and deeds.

Your Honor, before continuing, I ask the respected court to make a fair decision and fully acquit me.

Once in this room, I said: "I don't understand what I'm doing here. I am a law-abiding citizen of the Russian Federation and have not committed any crime." Of course, from a human point of view, this is an obvious question, but as a servant of God, I perfectly understand why I am here. I am fulfilling the biblical prophecy recorded in the Gospel of Mark 13:9, in which Jesus Christ warned his followers: "You will be brought to the courts... and before the rulers... you will be set up for Me, to testify before them."

In this regard, I want to share with you my observation. During the court sessions, I saw how important it is for my defense to delve into the case materials. This is very similar to how Jehovah's Witnesses try to delve into what is written in the Bible. I have been studying the Bible for over 25 years. It repeatedly says that God Jehovah is the Supreme Judge of the whole earth. It also explains that God allows earthly governments and courts, as this ensures relative order and deters crime. Thanks to these court sessions, I looked at the Bible from the other side — from the legal side. It describes a very important trial that I want to tell you about.

In any trial, there is a judge, the prosecution, the defense. And in God's greatest trial, there is also a judge — God Jehovah, there is a prosecution side — Satan the Devil, there is a defense side — the son of God, Jesus Christ. We, Jehovah's Witnesses, perform different roles in this Divine trial: postmen who bring court notices to people, volunteer lawyers who help people understand the essence of the accusation and see the line of defense.

According to the law, the indictment indicates the essence of the charge, the time and place of the crime, its methods, motives, goals, consequences and other circumstances. With regard to God's judgment, all this is indicated in the Bible.

In addition, the indictment must contain references to volumes and sheets of the criminal case. In the Bible, in Malachi 3:16, Revelation 3:5 and 17:8, it is said that the "book of life" is written before God. It is still being written, since God's trial has not yet been completed, and it can be compared with the case materials. And the Bible itself can be compared to an indictment. Only the Bible is, first of all, an acquittal, and only then an indictment. After all, the Almighty Judge Jehovah is not only the most just, but also the most merciful. He wants all people to repent and live, as stated in Acts 17:30, 31: "God now commands all people everywhere to repent; for He has appointed a day on which He will justly judge the universe." Those who do not repent, of course, will be justly punished.

Further. According to the law, a list of persons to be summoned to court by the prosecution and the defense is attached to the indictment. And the biblical acquittal says that everyone will appear before the judgment seat of God. Romans 14:12 says about this: "So each of us will give an account to God for himself." It turns out that the list of people to be summoned to God's court session is very impressive — all of humanity.

No one knows the norms of good and evil as well as Jehovah, because he is not only a Judge, but also a Legislator. Isaiah 33:22 says: "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us."

What distinguishes Jehovah from other judges? This is the possession of complete information on the case. Psalm 89:8 speaks of Jehovah: "You have laid our iniquities before You and our secret things before the light of Your face." God knows more than people can see or hear. As our Creator, he understands how a person is influenced by his genetics, upbringing, the environment in which he lives, as well as mental and emotional health. In addition, Jehovah sees the motives and desires of man. There is nothing to hide from God. It is safe to add that Jehovah is impartial. He cannot be bribed. For him, neither a person's appearance, nor his wealth, nor weight in society, nor talents matter. There is no doubt that Jehovah is the best Judge.

Of course, I'm not a lawyer. But I am sure that if a person with a legal education approaches the study of the Holy Scriptures from this side, he will see that in fact the judicial process described in the Bible is not so simple and requires close attention, since it concerns every person. I would like to sincerely address all those present. Please pay attention to the most important trial in your life!

Summary of the case

Region:

Crimea

Locality:

Krasnogvardeyskoye

What is suspected:

"Acting intentionally he performed active actions of an organizational nature... expressed in the organization of propaganda meetings at which the texts and religious provisions of the Jehovah's Witnesses were discussed" (from the decision on the election of a preventive measure in the form of detention)

Criminal case number:

12202350020000163

Case initiated:

September 19, 2022

Current stage of the case:

The verdict has not entered into force

Investigating:

GSU of the RF IC for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (1)

Case number in court:

1-8/2024 (1-259/2023)

Court of First Instance:

Krasnogvardeysky District Court of the Republic of Crimea

Judge of the Court of First instance:

Valentin Shukalsky