At the Request of the Prosecutor, the Primorye Regional Court Commuted the Sentences of Four Believers from Luchegorsk. The Term for Each of Them Reduced by a Month

 RUSSIA 

At the Request of the Prosecutor, the Primorye Regional Court Commuted the Sentences of Four Believers from Luchegorsk. The Term for Each of Them Reduced by a Month

July 31, 2024 Primorye Territory

On July 4, 2024, the Primorye Regional Court considered the prosecutor's appeal for mitigation of the sentences of four of Jehovah's Witnesses from Luchegorsk. The judicial board amended the verdict, reducing the suspended sentences by a month for each of the convicts. The decision came into force.

In the court of first instance, the prosecutor requested real terms: six years for Yuriy Ponomarenko and Oleg Sergeyev, two years and six months for Andrey Lyakhov, two years for Nikolay Dikhtyar, but the judge sentenced the believers to suspended terms: Yuriy Ponomarenko received six years and six months, Oleg Sergeyev — six years and four months, Andrey Lyakhov — two years and eight months, Nikolay Dikhtyar — two years and six months.

Prosecutor S.E. Mekesheva pointed out that the court of first instance had incorrectly applied the aggravating circumstance of "committing a crime as part of an organized group." Since this circumstance is already provided for in the article of conviction and cannot be considered again when imposing punishment, the prosecutor requested to mitigate the sentence of the first instance.

The Case of Ponomarenko and Others in Luchegorsk

Case History

In July 2021, Yuriy Ponomarenko’s home was searched in Luchegorsk. The Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against him on suspicion of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. In November of the same year, as part of the Ponomarenko case, another search was carried out: in the home of Oleg Sergeyev. He was charged under the same article. In March 2022, two more defendants appeared in the case: Andrey Lyakhov and Nikolay Dikhtyar were charged with participating in the activity of an extremist organization. In June 2022, the criminal case against the believers went to court. Almost two years later, in May 2024, the believers were given suspended sentences ranging from two and a half to six and a half years. Later, at the request of the prosecutor, the court of appeal reduced the term of each of the believers by one month.

Criminal case

Region:

Primorye Territory

Locality:

Luchegorsk

Court case number:

12102050012000058

Case initiated:

July 16, 2021

Current case stage:

The verdict entered into force

Investigating:

Investigative Directorate for the city of Dalnerechensk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorsky Territory

Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:

282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)

Court case number:

1-6/2024 (1-22/2023; 1-197/2022)

Court of First Instance:

Pozharsky District Court of Primorsky Krai

Judge of the Court of First Instance:

Mikhail Atroshko

In the photo: The believers with their relatives and friends, May 6, 2024.