Case of Maslov in Minusinsk

The Minusinsk District Department of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia initiates a criminal case for faith under Article 282.2 (1); According to investigators, he organized religious performances at a religious service. Innocent victims of law enforcement officers are: Dmitry Maslov (born in 1976).

The meeting was postponed to May 22, 2020.

Minusinsk City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory (Minusinsk, Gogol St., 66 A).

Hearings continue in the Minusinsk City Court. Dmitry Maslov petitions for the termination of the criminal case on the basis of the decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, as well as for a review of some of the material evidence seized during the search: the film "The Courage of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Face of Nazism" and the book about Jehovah's Witnesses by religious scholar Sergei Ivanenko. Judge Viktor Fomichev rejects the first motion and allows the defendant to use only the seized book.

The court is interrogating 3 defense witnesses who have known Dmitry for a long time (some have known him for more than 10 years). They state that the defendant never imposed his beliefs on them, did not introduce himself as a member of the Local Religious Organization, did not invite them to its meetings and did not offer them any literature. Also, they did not hear from Dmitry any criticism of the state authorities or other faiths. Although the witnesses for the defense profess other religions, they speak of the believer as an honest, kind, sociable, punctual person and an impeccable worker.

The defendant is being interrogated. Dmitry Maslov draws attention to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of April 20, 2017, which did not assess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, but banned the activities of legal entities. But discussing the Bible with other people, praying to God together, and singing songs are not extremist. I lead a peaceful life, respect the law and authority."

He explains that the prosecution mistakenly interprets the ordinary life of a believer as illegal actions. Unlike the local religious organization as a legal entity that was engaged in economic activities in Minusinsk, Dmitry Maslov, as a private person, exercised his constitutional right to freedom of religion.

During the debate in the Minusinsk City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the prosecutor requested a sentence of 6 years in prison for Dmitry Maslov in a general regime colony.

The next court session, at which the believer may deliver his last word, is scheduled for March 29. On the same day, the court may issue a verdict.

The court hearing is postponed to May 28.

The court postpones the announcement of the verdict until June 2.

The verdict is announced: to find Dmitry Maslov guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and to impose a fine of 450,000 rubles.

The panel of judges of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, chaired by Vladimir Granenkin, refuses to satisfy Dmitry Maslov's appeal. The verdict comes into force.

The panel of judges of the Eighth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction (Kemerovo), chaired by Sergey Pelevin, leaves unchanged the verdict and the appeal ruling against Dmitry Maslov.