Vasiliy Meleshko Released After Serving His Term in a Penal Colony for Faith in Jehovah

 RUSSIA 

Vasiliy Meleshko Released After Serving His Term in a Penal Colony for Faith in Jehovah

July 12, 2024 Krasnodar Territory

On July 12, 2024, Vasiliy Meleshko, 63, one of Jehovah's Witness from the village of Kholmskaya, was released from penal colony No. 11 in the Krasnodar Territory. The believer served his sentence in full.

The criminal prosecution of Vasiliy Meleshko began in the spring of 2021, and in the fall of the same year, the Abinskiy District Court convicted Vasiliy in just two sessions - 3 years in prison. In fact, the believer spent a little more than two years and nine months in the colony, but taking into account the time of imprisonment in the pre-trial detention center, the sentence in terms of imprisonment is considered to be served. According to the verdict, Vasiliy's freedom will be limited to some extent for one more year after his release from the colony.

Part of his term in the colony, Meleshko was in strict conditions of detention, where the rights of prisoners were infringed more than usual. Several times he was transferred to a "prison within a colony" -- a cell-type room and a punishment cell. The believer's chronic illnesses were exacerbated, and he was treated in the prison hospital.

It was especially difficult for Vasiliy to endure the long separation from his wife, with whom they had been living together for 42 years, almost never being separated for more than a week. Zoya Meleshko said: "It wasn't until nine months [after Vasiliy's detention] that we saw each other on a long date and were finally able to hug. We couldn't do without tears, we couldn't get enough of talking to each other."

Due to the fact that Vasiliy was kept in strict conditions, the couple saw each other only once every four months, so the main method of communication was correspondence. "Vasiliy wrote very affectionate, tender letters, assuring me of his love," Zoya shared.

The Abinsk District Court had already sentenced eight Jehovah's Witnesses from the village of Kholmskaya to imprisonment. Four were released after serving their sentences.

The case of Meleshko in Kholmskaya

Case History

In April 2021, the house of Vasiliy and Zoya Meleshko from the village of Kholmskaya was searched. A week earlier, the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against the believer for participation in extremist activities. The security forces interrogated Vasiliy and also photographed him against the background of the former worship building and at home at the table in order to “film the crime scene”. In July 2021, Meleshko’s case was submitted to the district court. In just two sessions, Judge Mikhail Ostashevsky considered the case and sentenced the believer to 3 years in a general regime colony. In October of the same year, the appeal approved the verdict, and in December, Meleshko arrived at the colony to serve his sentence. The cassation court approved the decisions of the lower courts in June 2022. In July 2024, the believer was released.

Criminal case

Region:

Krasnodar Territory

Locality:

Kholmskaya

Suspected of:

"Conducted and listened to lectures based on religious literature entered into conversation and religious discussions with other participants, participated in collective discussions of religious books"

Court case number:

12107030001000017

Case initiated:

March 31, 2021

Current case stage:

the verdict entered into force

Investigating:

Investigative Directorate for the Abinsk District of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Krasnodar Territory

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2)

Court case number:

1-210/2021

Court:

Abinsky District Court of the Krasnodar Territory

 Judge:

 Mikhail Ostashevsky

In the photo: “The hardest challenge during the persecution was separation.” The Meleshko spouses after Vasiliy’s release. July 2024