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 RUSSIA  The case of Novoseletskaya in Vyselki Novoseletskaya Natalya Updated: September 10, 2024 Name: Novoseletskaya Natalya Nikolayevna Date of Birth: September 26, 1963 Current status: defendant Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2) Current restrictions: recognizance agreement Biography Nataliya Novoseletskaya was born in 1963 in the village of Dombarovsky (Orenburg Region). She has an elder and a younger sister. Their father was in the military. When he retired to the reserve, the family moved to Vyselki. The parents are no longer alive. As a child, Nataliya loved to draw, sculpt, read, solve puzzles and participate in quizzes. She graduated from the Krasnodar Architectural and Construction College and after that worked for some time as a graphic designer. At different times, she worked as a nurse, fire inspector and salesman. She retired in 2018. Nataliya became convinced of the authenticity of the Bible when she thoroughly checked and compared the facts reco

 RUSSIA  Davydenko's case in Pavlovskaya Davydenko Aleksandr Updated: September 10, 2024 Name: Davydenko Aleksandr Mikhailovich Date of Birth: March 24, 1992 Current status: defendant Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2) Time spent in prison: 175 day in a pre-trial detention Current restrictions: detention center Currently held in: Detention Center No. 2 in Krasnodar Territory Address for correspondence: Davydenko Aleksandr Mikhailovich, born 1992, SIZO No. 2 in Krasnodar territory, ul. Pugacheva, 32, g. Armavir, Krasnodar Territory, Russia, 352909 Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «FSIN-letter system». To pay for service with the card of a foreign bank use Prisonmail. Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass. Biography Aleksandr Davydenko was first prosecuted for his faith in the spring of 2020, when a criminal case was opened against

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Pavel Popov in Chelyabinsk May 23, 2022 Chelyabinsk region From the courtroom In his speech, Pavel Popov explained in detail that he was being tried for his faith, and not for any illegal actions: "My indictment was changed five times. Different phrases and formulations were changed. But no specific socially dangerous action on my part has been recorded." Transcript of the court session in the Metallurgical District Court of Chelyabinsk dated 05/23/2022 in the case 1-77/2022 (1-659/2021) on charges of Popov Pavel Nikolaevich of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Popov Pavel Nikolaevich: Your Honor, I want to thank you for explaining to me how to behave in court, what questions not to ask, what explanations to make and when. This is all unfamiliar to me, since this is my first time in the dock. But respect for the highest authorities is very important to me, because the Holy S

 RUSSIA  Dmitry Terebilov served time for his faith, but was not released — the court in the second case placed him in jail on September 9, 2024, Kostroma region Dmitry Terebilov, whose sentence for faith ended on September 5, remains behind bars. Back on August 26, the Sverdlovsk District Court of Kostroma ruled on the detention of a believer in a pre—trial detention center in the second case - for talking about the Bible with another prisoner. The investigation interprets such conversations as "the involvement of convicts ... in the activities of an extremist organization." At the same time, Terebilov's interlocutor cooperated with the investigation, feigning interest in the Bible. The administration of colony No. 1 in the Kostroma region, where Dmitry was previously located, forbade him to issue those letters of support in which the name of God is present. Terebilov also faced other limitations. "No matter what he did: read the Bible, prayed to God, told others ab

 RUSSIA  The case of Talipov et al. in Izhevsk Knyazev Valery Updated: September 9, 2024 FULL name: Knyazev Valery Anatolyevich Date of birth: March 7, 1951 Current status in the criminal case: the accused Articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: 282.2 (1) Spent in custody: 1 day in the IVS Current restrictions: prohibition of certain actions Biography Valery Knyazev, a veteran of labor who was awarded three medals for impeccable service and awarded the Izhevsk Administration Prize for 50 years of living together with his wife, faced persecution for his faith. Valery was born in 1951 in the village of Tum in the Yarsky district of the Udmurt ASSR. He has a sister. After school, Valery entered the Ivanovo Fire Technical School, from which he graduated in 1972. In parallel with his studies, he served in the military. After college, Valery was assigned to the city of Izhevsk, where he now lives. In 1986, he graduated from the History Department of Udmurt State University.

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Raisa Usanova in Vladivostok May 27, 2022 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom Addressing the court, Raisa Usanova compared modern prisoners of conscience with Christians of the first century. The believer said: "Jesus Christ warned that his followers would be brought to the courts "for my name to testify before them." Today his words come true — I stand before you." Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok dated 05/27/2022 in the case 1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019) on the charges of Raisa Mikhailovna Usanova and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Usanova Raisa Mikhailovna: Your Honor, I would like to begin my last word by thanking you for your patience and correct attitude towards us. You took into account our age. Thanks to the prosecutor for pronouncing God's name correctly. I thank Assistant Judge Yana, who al

 RUSSIA  Case of Talipov and Others in Izhevsk Stefanidin Aleksandr Updated: September 5, 2024 Name: Stefanidin Aleksandr Sergeyevich Date of Birth: September 19, 1991 Current status: accused Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1) Time spent in prison: 1 day in a temporary detention facility, 92 day in a pre-trial detention Current restrictions: detention center Currently held in: Detention Center No.1 for Udmurtian Republic Address for correspondence: Stefanidin Aleksandr Sergeyevich, born 1991, Detention Center No.1 for Udmurtian Republic, ul. Bazisnaya, 13, Izhevsk, Udmurtian Republic, 426034 Letters of support can be sent by regular mail or through the «zonatelecom». Note: discussing topics related to criminal prosecution is not allowed in letters; languages other than Russian will not pass. Biography In the summer of 2024, a criminal case was opened against Aleksandr Stefanidin from Izhevsk, searches were carried out in his house, after which the man was sent t

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Nina Purge in Vladivostok May 27, 2022 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom In her address to the court, the believer told about her life and how she found answers to all her questions about suffering and death in the Bible. She said, "If people read the Bible and lived in harmony with it, I think there would be no wars, no anger, no hatred." Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok dated 05/27/2022 in the case 1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019) on the charges of Nina Ivanovna Purge and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Purge Nina Ivanovna: Your Honor, I sincerely thank you for the understanding, kindness, and patience that you have shown us. Perhaps such defendants as us, who did not harm anyone even in old age, are rare cases in your practice. You took into account our limited capabilities. This is especially pleasant because th

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Naili Kogai in Vladivostok May 27, 2022 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom Naila Kogai drew attention to the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses freely profess their faith in most countries of the world, which means they do not pose a danger. She also reminded the court that in modern Russia, followers of this denomination were recognized as victims of political repression and rehabilitated. Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok dated 05/27/2022 in the case 1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019) on the charges of Kogai Naili Sunatovna and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Kogai Nailya Sunatovna: Your Honor, this is my last word before you pass sentence. First of all, I want to thank you for your patience with me and my friends. We have never had to act as defendants before. Secondly, thanks to Prosecutor Ekaterina Vladimirovna for pronouncin

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Nadezhda Anokina in Vladivostok May 27, 2022 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom In her last speech, the defendant told how the biblical truths changed her life for the better and why Jehovah's Witnesses, as sincerely believing people, are unthinkable to be classified as extremists: "I didn't kill anyone, I didn't rob anyone, I didn't hurt anyone. There is not a single victim in our case." Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok dated 05/27/2022 in the case 1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019) on the charges of Nadezhda Anatolyevna Anoikina and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Anokina Nadezhda Anatolyevna: Dear court, dear participants in the process! First of all, I would like to thank you for the kind and calm atmosphere that has always prevailed at the meetings. Thank you, Your Honor, for always taking into acc

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Lyubov Galaktionova in Vladivostok May 27, 2022 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom Despite her advanced age and poor health, the believer was able to tell the court about how the Bible helped her to change for the better. She drew the court's attention to the fact that both neighbors and work colleagues know her as a kind and peaceful person. Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok dated 05/27/2022 in the case 1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019) according to the accusation of Galaktionova Lyubov Alexandrovna and others. of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Galaktionova Lyubov Alexandrovna: Your Honor, this is my last word. It will be brief due to my state of health. I want to answer your question. In all these countries, Jehovah's Witnesses have always acted in accordance with the words of Christ: "They are not of the world, just as I a

 RUSSIA  The case of Ushakova in Vyselki Ushakova Irina Updated: September 2, 2024 Name: Ushakova Irina Vitaliyevna Date of Birth: December 28, 1974 Current status: defendant Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (2) Current restrictions: recognizance agreement Biography At the age of 16, Irina Ushakova was forced to flee Tajikistan after facing persecution on ethnic grounds. Thirty-two years later, she was persecuted again, this time in Russia, for her faith in Jehovah God. Irina was born in 1974 in Dushanbe. She has a younger sister. Their mother is retired, their father died in 2020. As a child, Irina was engaged in acrobatics and athletics. After school, she studied to be a hairdresser, then worked at a meat processing plant as a sausage molder. Since 2021, she has not been working, as she is on disability. Irina likes to grow flowers; she is also fond of confectionery. From her youth, Irina was looking for answers to questions about God. At the age of 16, she boug

 RUSSIA The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk Kupriyanskiy Nikolay Updated: September 2, 2024 Name: Kupriyanskiy Nikolay Viktorovich Date of Birth: November 16, 1967 Current status: defendant Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1) Time spent in prison: 2 day in a temporary detention facility, 389 day Under house arrest Current restrictions: house arrest Biography In July 2023, peaceful believer Nikolay Kupriyanskiy became a defendant in a criminal case for his belief in Jehovah God. His house was searched, the man was placed in a temporary detention facility, and later under house arrest. Nikolay was born in November 1967 in Kursk. His father is retired and worked as a locksmith all his life. His mother and younger brother have passed away. As a child, Nikolay loved sports—he was engaged in wrestling, shooting, skiing. After school, he graduated from the Oryol Commercial Institute, was engaged in entrepreneurial activities. In 1985, Nikolay met Tatyana in the

 CRIMEA  Case of Brattseva in Razdolnoye Brattseva Tamara Updated: September 2, 2024 Name: Brattseva Tamara Ivanovna Date of Birth: September 28, 1955 Current status: suspect Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1) Current restrictions: recognizance agreement Biography Tamara Bratseva, a pensioner from Razdolnoye, found herself under the yoke of criminal prosecution for her faith in God. In August 2024, her house was searched, and the woman was asked not to leave the city. Tamara was born in September 1955 in Melitopol in a family of ordinary workers. She has a younger sister. "I loved to read," Tamara said, recalling her childhood. "I was just reading different stories. The library was where I spent a lot of time." After school, the girl tried to enroll in the Zaporozhye Pedagogical Institute's Faculty of Philology, but did not score the required points. Returning to her hometown, Tamara got a job as a cleaner in the lathe shop of a compresso

 RUSSIA  The last word of the defendant Valentin Osadchuk in Vladivostok May 27, 2022 Primorsky Krai From the courtroom In the last word, the defendant tried to answer the question of why peaceful Jehovah's Witnesses are persecuted for their faith. "They are persecuted because of their religious beliefs, and the goal is to eradicate these beliefs and prevent their spread." Transcript of the court session in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok dated 05/27/2022 in the case 1-14/2022 (1-136/2021; 1-414/2019) on the charges of Osadchuk Valentin Pavlovich and others. of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Osadchuk Valentin Pavlovich: Dear court, during the entire trial there have already been many arguments "for" our acquittal. I want to use my last word to answer the question you asked earlier. Before proceeding to it, I want to thank you, Your Honor, for the permission to travel outside the city of