The Case of Sushilnikova in Novokuznetsk

Captain of Justice Vladislav Minaev, investigator for particularly important cases of the Investigative Directorate for the city of Novokuznetsk of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass, initiates a criminal case against Tatyana Sushilnikova on the basis of a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, Sushilnikova "conducted conversations" of a religious nature, and also participated in religious services.

Investigator Vladislav Minaev prosecutes Tatyana Sushilnikova as a defendant under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in criminal case No. 12202320010000232. The investigation believes that the believer "repeatedly personally actively participated in meetings of followers of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses."

After two months of investigation, the case is submitted to the Kuznetsk District Court of Novokuznetsk.

Judge Viktor Fedosenko decides to return the case of Tatyana Sushilnikova to the prosecutor, since the indictment was drawn up with violations.

The prosecutor shall file an appeal against the court decision to return the criminal case.

Tatyana Sushilnikova's case is again submitted to the Kuznetsk District Court of Novokuznetsk. This time it will be considered by judge Valeria Shipitsyna.

"I do not admit my guilt in the crime imputed to me in full, I ask you to pass an acquittal," Tatyana Sushilnikova expresses her attitude to the charge and asks to attach it to the case.

33 listeners are waiting for the believer on the street.

Although the hearing takes place in the judge's office, one of the 22 attendees is allowed to attend.

Since there are no witnesses for the prosecution, the prosecutor proposes to read out the testimony of one of them. The defense agrees, and offers to interrogate the other two personally.

A prosecution witness is being questioned. The prosecutor asks how he met Jehovah's Witnesses. The man replies that they came to his house about three years ago, but he does not know the defendant and has never seen her.

42 people gather outside the courthouse. No one is allowed into the hall.

The court interrogates FSB investigator Safronov. He says that Tatyana Sushilnikova became a defendant in the criminal case, "because she is Sergey's wife, took an active part in meetings, was engaged in rounds and conducting conversations with the population." At the same time, the witness acknowledges that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited.

An Orthodox clergyman is being interrogated. He says that he does not know the defendant, he learned about the denomination of Jehovah's Witnesses from open sources. He says that his "religion is true and the rest is heresy."

6 listeners are allowed to attend the meeting. About 30 more people remain on the street near the courthouse.

Prosecution witnesses are being questioned. The first of them reports that she does not know the defendant and has never seen her before. The second witness, an FSB officer, said he saw the defendant and her husband talking about something in the park with a married couple.

34 people gather outside the courtroom to support Tatyana Sushilnikova.

The questioning of prosecution witnesses is ongoing. One of them does not appear in court, and the prosecutor offers to read out his testimony, but the defense asks to exclude the testimony of this witness from the case. The judge and prosecutor agree.

The following witness is being questioned. The prosecutor asks if people talking about God and the Bible have come to her and if they have offered anything. The Witness says that 10 years ago she was visited by two men who introduced themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses. They offered her religious literature, but she did not communicate with them, and immediately expelled them. The prosecutor reads out her affidavit and she confirms it.

Tatiana testifies. She explains to the court that the spread of beliefs is characteristic of most religions and she, professing her faith, used Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The defendant also reads out some of the materials of the case.

The prosecutor asks to appoint Tatyana Sushirnikova 4 years of suspended sentence, 3 years of probation and 10 months of additional restrictions.

Tatyana Sushilnikova begins her speech in the debate with the words "faith without works is dead" and explains: "All the actions of which I am accused, namely participation in worship services and the dissemination of doctrine, are nothing more than a manifestation of faith." Tatyana believes that the accusation is based on assumptions, because the prosecutor only proved that the believers gathered together, prayed, sang songs and discussed the Bible, while not a single witness confirmed her guilt under the imputed article. The lawyer adds that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited in Russia.

About 60 people gathered outside the courthouse to support the defendant.