The Case of Samus in Kostroma

Alexander Sizov, an investigator for particularly important cases of the Factory Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, is initiating a criminal case against 72-year-old Valentina Samus on suspicion of participating in extremist activities (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Valentina Samus was charged with organizing the activities of an extremist community (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the place and proper behavior.

She is charged with "satisfying spiritual needs, carrying out joint and personal worship based on the Holy Scriptures (the Bible), familiarizing people with the Holy Scriptures, biblical teachings, principles and norms."

Also, according to the investigation, she "organized and took part in a religious meeting (study) - a collective worship service remotely through video conferencing, consisting of sequential actions: reading prayers to Jehovah God and singing songs from special texts of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, watching videos on religious topics, quoting articles from the religious literature of Jehovah's Witnesses, reading reading, practicing skills of service."

The six-volume criminal case is submitted to the Dimitrovsky District Court of Kostroma. The case will be considered by judge Maria Zaikina.

Court hearings on the merits begin.

The first witness, Valentina's wife, Ivan, is being interrogated.

Two prosecution witnesses are being questioned. One of them, a seller of Orthodox paraphernalia, communicated with the defendant in 2018. She reports that Valentina discussed the Gospel with her and describes her as a positive person with whom she was pleased to communicate.

According to the witness, Valentina did not allow insulting remarks about people who do not profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, calls for incitement of hatred on religious or national grounds, as well as violence, overthrow of the constitutional order and disrespect for state authorities. Also, the witness did not hear from Samus any motivation to break off family relations, refuse to perform civil duties or refuse medical intervention. The witness learned that Valentina had a different religion only during interrogation by the investigator.

The prosecutor draws attention to the contradictions between the current testimony and those that the woman gave earlier during interrogation by the investigator. Commenting on a number of entries from the interrogation protocol, the witness replies that she "did not say that."

The prosecution witnesses summoned to the court again do not appear at the hearing, so the prosecutor begins to announce the case materials.

Prosecution witnesses are being questioned.

The court continues to examine the materials of the case. Among them are telephone conversations between Samus and her husband, hidden recordings of worship services and conversations about the Bible.

The believer asks the prosecutor to pronounce the name of Jehovah God correctly, since the incorrect pronunciation of this name hurts her religious feelings. The judge supports her request.

The announcement of audio recordings from the case materials continues. The written testimony of Farida Akhunzyanova, an employee of Kostroma State University, who was involved in the investigation as an expert, is also read out. The defendant claims that the expert was not based on facts, but the judge asks her not to ask questions to the court.

Hidden audio recordings of Valentina Samus' conversations about biblical teachings with one of the prosecution witnesses, personal conversations of the believer, and a hidden recording of the divine service, which spoke of respect for authority, are being announced.

The court shall hear the affidavit of two witnesses for the prosecution.

The defendant gives testimony in which she comments on the materials contained in the volumes of the case. About 20 relatives and fellow believers come to support her.

Valentina's son, Alexei, is being interrogated. He says that he lives with his parents, he is not interested in the Bible, but he knows that his mother reads it. According to him, such a publication can be bought in the store.

Samus files a petition for a comprehensive linguistic religious forensic examination. The judge refuses.

The believer testifies. The prosecutor takes an interest in Valentina's health and asks her questions about the case file. The believer talks about her health and financial situation (she is a pensioner), and answering other questions, she uses Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The prosecutor asks to imprison 74-year-old Valentina Samus in a colony for 7 years.

The believer gives her last word in court.