The last word of the defendant Alexander Shevchuk in Saransk

 RUSSIA 

The last word of the defendant Alexander Shevchuk in Saransk

August 15, 2022

Mordovia

From the courtroom

"Anyone who is even slightly familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses understands that any extremist views directly contradict our religious beliefs," the defendant said. In his opinion, the persecution of believers "is like chasing the wind, and this persecution will not bring any benefit."

Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Saransk dated 08/23/2022 in the case 1-13/2022 (1-216/2021) against Shevchuk Alexander Stanislavovich and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Shevchuk Alexander Stanislavovich: Your Honor, at the beginning of my speech, I would like to thank all the participants in the process. I am grateful to the lawyers who tried to delve into our difficult case and provide us with qualified protection. I am grateful to the state prosecutors, who, despite doing their direct work, showed respect for us and tried to treat us without prejudice.

Of course, Your Honor, I am grateful to you that during this long time you have tried to delve deeply into the essence of our case, provided us with enough time to prepare and speak in court sessions, and satisfied our petitions.

I would like to express my special gratitude to my family and friends, who have always been there, supported and encouraged, and prayed for us.

I would like to start by discussing why, in fact, in our state, not only have legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses been banned, but they continue to restrict the rights of ordinary believers like us. Why start with this? My friends, neighbors, and work colleagues often ask me similar questions. And I still don't know how to explain it to them. Why did the law-abiding peaceful citizens of our country suddenly become extremists? For what kind of "merits"? Anyone who is even slightly familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses understands that any extremist views directly contradict our religious beliefs. Therefore, this label, which is attached to virtually all the faithful Witnesses of our country, sounds ridiculous and absurd. And I am sure that our trial also proves the entire inconsistency and absurdity of such an accusation.

Why did they launch such a campaign against Jehovah's Witnesses to discredit and persecute their beliefs? I tried to look at it from a human point of view.

For example, a similar phrase wanders from accusatory to accusatory: "at the meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, it was pointed out that they refused to undergo military service." Maybe the state sees this as a threat? I want to assure you that although Jehovah's Witnesses generally adhere to a peaceful position and refuse not only to take up arms, but also to learn how to fight, this position is based precisely on the Bible. No one is forcing you to do this. Guided by a Bible-trained conscience, each Witness makes an informed decision in this regard. So, when, due to my age, I was faced with the choice of serving in the army or using the AGS law, I chose the latter.

I would like to draw your attention to what prompted me to make this decision. The Gospel of Matthew, in the 26th chapter, describes, perhaps, the most justified reason from the point of view of a believer, to take up arms. Peter, deciding to protect Jesus from his opponents, picks up a sword and even wounds one of them. How did Jesus view that situation and what did he want to teach his followers? He told Peter: "Put your sword back in its place, for all who take up the sword will perish with the sword." Jesus strongly condemned any violence, whatever its purpose. Moreover, he taught his students the exact opposite — to love your neighbors and even your enemies. And in the biblical book of Isaiah, in the 2nd chapter, the 4th verse, it is written about the servants of God: "They will turn their swords into plowshares, and spears into sickles: the people will not lift up the sword against the people, and they will no longer learn to fight." According to historical documents, this is exactly the position held by Christians who lived in the first century. They refused to serve in the Roman army.

From a Christian's point of view, participating in military conflicts is a direct violation of Christ's commandment. Jesus said about the distinctive feature of his servants: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other." Religious people of the same denomination often participate in wars on different sides. From the point of view of Jehovah's Witnesses, this is unacceptable. I would like to emphasize that all Jehovah's Witnesses around the world adhere to this peaceful position. I am sure that just as in Russia, so in the USA, Germany, Ukraine and in all other countries, Witnesses do not take up arms and do not learn to fight. There are no Jehovah's Witnesses in any military conflict or on any side. Whether this is good or bad from the point of view of the state, nevertheless, this position does not contradict any state laws. The governments of all civilized countries respect the position of believers in this regard and for this purpose special laws have been created that protect the rights of believers. For example, in our state there is a law on the AGS, which allows, in accordance with one's beliefs, to refuse military service and perform some other socially useful work. To sum up, the peaceful position of Jehovah's Witnesses does not contradict either human or God's laws. And certainly such a position has nothing to do with extremism.

I can assume that there is another reason for disliking Jehovah's Witnesses. For example, the prosecution, in fact, claims that judging the truth of their views is precisely what offends the feelings of other believers. During this process, we have already talked about this more than once from the point of view of law. The vast majority of religions, if not all, declare the truth of their creeds. This is also true of the most widespread in our country, for example, Orthodox Christians and Muslims. On major Internet sites, representatives of these religions openly declare their truth and deviation from the truth of other religions and the falsity of their beliefs. But such a judgment in itself does not violate the freedom of others, it is part of the creed of almost any religion. Although I hold this opinion, I believe that my religious beliefs are true, I adhere to a Christian position in relation to believers from other faiths. As a Jehovah's Witness, I not only do not hate representatives of other religions, but also try to follow the teachings of Christ. And Jesus Christ taught "to love your neighbor as yourself." And Jehovah's Witnesses understand that a neighbor is someone who is nearby, and it does not matter what social status or religious affiliation a person has. The Bible teaches me to treat all people with equal respect, because everyone is equal before God. In addition, in the biblical book of Galatians, every believer is encouraged: "As long as there is time, let us do good to all." Yes, the position of Jehovah's Witnesses in relation to others is active. And sharing my religious beliefs with others is also a good thing in my eyes. The main motive of any Christian is love. When you've learned something that you think will improve another person's life and make it meaningful, you want to tell others about it. The belief that biblical knowledge is vital motivates me to share this knowledge with others, to share what I have learned by studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. For me, the opportunity to share the truths from the Bible with others is also an opportunity to show love for God. At the same time, I understand that it is necessary to do this with meekness and deep respect, because, ultimately, everyone chooses what to believe and how to live.

So, believing in the truth of one's beliefs and the desire to share one's beliefs with others also does not pose any danger to people or the state, does not contradict any laws, and certainly cannot be considered extremism.

To be honest, Your Honor, from a human point of view, it is completely incomprehensible to me why spend such huge forces and funds persecuting people just for their faith. According to the latest data, about 1,800 searches have already been conducted in 61 regions of our country, 635 people have been prosecuted, of which 226 have already been convicted. And these numbers continue to grow. And the whole accusation is based only on the confession of faith of Jehovah's Witnesses. No crimes, victims and victims, no threat to society. It's more like chasing the wind, and this pursuit will not bring any benefit to the state or society as a whole.

But I try to look at all this from a spiritual point of view. Jesus warned his disciples more than once that they would face misunderstanding and even hatred from people, that they would be persecuted. And the Apostle Paul later wrote these words: "And all who wish to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy, 3rd chapter, 12th verse). If you look at the situation from this position, everything falls into place. But the Bible contains not only a warning, but also an assurance that Jehovah God will give the necessary strength, strengthen in faith and turn all difficulties and trials into blessings. Almighty God is able to direct events as he pleases. And this is evidenced by history. Repression and persecution have never been able to force deeply religious people to abandon their faith in God.

For example, in the first century, Christians in Jerusalem faced severe persecution. What did it lead to? In the biblical book of Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8, it is written that many Christians "scattered to different places in Judea and Samaria… Meanwhile, those who were scattered went about and preached the word." The persecution only strengthened the believers and contributed to the spread of Christianity in those days. This was also the case during the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Professor Nikolai Gordienko said the following words about the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses: "Both in Germany and in Soviet times, we decided that the idea could be overcome by brutal violence. But it turned out that when an idea is strong, it also makes people strong."

Since the 40s of the last century, my family has faced such persecution for faith for many years. At first, my great-grandfathers, according to the then-famous article 58, were sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony only for professing the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. Then, in 1951, their wives and children were sent to an eternal settlement in Siberia, as they said at the time. For what? Only for faith. They could easily have avoided such reprisals, all they had to do was sign a written renunciation of their faith, but they did not do that. They were ready for anything for the sake of their relationship with God, for the sake of their beliefs. They were ready to part with their possessions, travel thousands of kilometers from their native places, were ready for hard work and an inhospitable climate. Over time, it became possible to leave Siberia, but they could not even dream of returning to their native places, the state did not allow this. That's how my family ended up in the Caucasus. But the persecution did not end there. From the 60s until the end of the 80s, they could not freely express their religious beliefs, although they did not stop coming together for religious meetings and did not stop sharing their beliefs with others. In the 70s, my two grandfathers were convicted and sent to a colony just for being Jehovah's Witnesses. And then my father was convicted and sentenced to time for refusing to serve in the army.

Speaking generally about the persecution of Witnesses in the Soviet Union, it is safe to say that the repression did not break faith, but strengthened it, did not limit the dissemination of the views and teachings of Witnesses, but, on the contrary, contributed to their spread. If shortly before the exile to Siberia in the USSR there were about 10,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, now there are more than 380,000 active preachers on the territory of the former Soviet Union, this does not include those who study the Bible or only attend joint religious meetings.

Yes, then the story ended well, the state recognized the right of Jehovah's Witnesses to freely profess their religious beliefs and even rehabilitated all survivors of repression. My mother still has certain benefits in connection with the rehabilitation of Jehovah's Witnesses recognized as victims of political repression.

And now? Will the wave of repression reach the scale that it was in the Soviet Union? It's impossible to say for sure. But I really hope that soon common sense and justice will prevail and the rights of believers will be restored. In the meantime, I am sure that such persecution will strengthen faith in God, because when you face special difficulties and trials, you feel God's support in a special way. And just as before, persecution will contribute to the spread of the religious beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. Throughout the country, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, lawyers, judges, correctional officers and prisoners are somehow getting acquainted with the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. And I am glad that I also have the opportunity to respectfully share my religious beliefs.

I am sure, Your Honor, that in every subject of our state, judges of local courts can restore justice and contribute to the observance of the fundamental rights and freedoms of law-abiding citizens.

I ask you, Your Honor, to acquit me and the other defendants and allow me to continue to freely exercise my constitutional rights.

Summary of the case

Region:

Mordovia

Locality:

Saransk

What is suspected:

He was engaged in "spreading ideology and faith among residents of the Republic of Mordovia by conducting conversations in public places and residential premises with residents of Saransk and other settlements," which is interpreted as "organizing the activities of an extremist organization"

Criminal case number:

11907890001000003

Case initiated:

February 4, 2019

The current stage of the case:

The verdict has entered into force

Investigating:

The Federal Security Service of Russia for the Republic of Mordovia

Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:

282.2 (2), 282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)

The number of the case in court:

1-13/2022 (1-216/2021)

Court:

Leninsky District Court of Saransk

Judge of the Court of first instance:

Elena Simonova.