Case of Pegasheva in Yoshkar-Ola

The Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Republic of Mari El initiates a criminal case for faith under Article 282.2 (2); According to the investigation, she "deliberately continued illegal activities ... by conducting interviews with unidentified persons in order to promote the activities of the banned religious extremist organization Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as by directly participating in events held by the banned organization." Innocent victims of law enforcement officers are: Ekaterina Pegasheva (born in 1989).

In the case of Ekaterina Pegasheva, two searches are underway in Yoshkar-Ola and one search in the village of Pirogovo (Kirov region), where her mother lives. During the searches, books and videos, electronic devices, personal letters and documents are seized, including even a school certificate and a certificate of passing the exam.

The court chooses a measure of restraint in the form of detention in relation to Ekaterina Pegasheva. She is sent to pre-trial detention center No. 1 in the Republic of Mari El.

Ekaterina Pegasheva is charged with committing a crime under Part 2. Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - participation in the activities of a banned organization.

The Yoshkar-Ola City Court extends the detention of Ekaterina Pegasheva in the pre-trial detention center.

The Yoshkar-Ola City Court softens the measure of restraint for Ekaterina Pegasheva and determines to transfer her to house arrest. For 3.5 months in the pre-trial detention center, she received more than 700 letters of support from 15 countries.

A court hearing is underway to extend the house arrest of Ekaterina Pegasheva. Of those who came to support the believer, only six are allowed into the courthouse. At the entrance, an FSB officer writes them summons for interrogation on March 24 to the deputy head of the investigation department of the FSB Marushin A.N. Nevertheless, listeners are not allowed into the courtroom.

With the consent of the head of the investigation department of the FSB in the Republic of Mari El, Tseberganov V. Y., investigator Marushin petitions for the extension of the house arrest of Ekaterina Pegasheva. Prosecutor M. M. Shakhnavazov supports the investigator's petition.

The accused and the defense counsel object, considering the investigator's arguments unfounded.

Judge Mayorova S.M. decides to extend Pegasheva's house arrest until May 26, 2020, explaining this by the purpose of "obtaining the results of psychological, linguistic, religious, phonoscopic forensic examinations."

For the period of the preventive measure, a ban has been imposed on the receipt and sending of correspondence, the use of means of communication and the Internet.

Head of the Investigation Department of the FSB V. Tseberganov extends the term of the preliminary investigation in the criminal case of Ekaterina Pegasheva to 10 months, that is, until July 26, 2020.

Judge of the Yoshkar-Ola City Court Oksana Ershova is considering the petition of investigator Alexei Marushin to extend house arrest for Ekaterina Pegasheva for 2 months, that is, until July 26, 2020. By this time, in total, taking into account the stay in the pre-trial detention center, the period of restriction of freedom will be 297 days.

The accused and the defense counsel do not agree with the investigator's petition and appeal to the court to mitigate the measure of restraint - in the form of a written undertaking not to leave or prohibit certain actions.

The court, having heard all the parties, decides to dismiss the believer's petition, taking into account the investigator's arguments that Catherine committed "a grave crime against the foundations of the constitutional order and the security of the state."

She is banned from correspondence, the use of communications and the Internet.

In the Gornomariyskiy District Court of the Republic of Mari El, hearings on the case of Ekaterina Pegasheva begin. The presiding judge is Nikolay Aiplatov. The believer expresses her attitude to the accusation before the court, calling it illegal. She emphasizes that extremism is alien to her, and she faces imprisonment, in fact, for exercising her legal right to practice her religion.

The court examines prosecution witnesses. According to one of them, at the services she attended, people "talked about God" and Pegasheva never called on those present to "commit violent acts, overthrow state power and change the constitutional order."

Interrogation of witnesses. They talk about discussing religious issues with the defendant. "She was talking about good things, she was talking about God," one said. Another witness could not recognize Pegasheva as the woman with whom she had communicated earlier. The third witness rents an apartment to the defendant. "I like Katya. She is disciplined, she pays for everything, there were no complaints from her neighbors, "she says.

The court interrogates a secret witness "Petrova", who believes that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is prohibited. According to her, peaceful topics were considered at the services, and Pegasheva did not call anyone to illegal actions.

At the hearing, the defendant explains that the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited by the court and meetings of believers are allowed by Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Ekaterina also points out: "In my conversations there are no calls for violence, enmity or disobedience to the laws. I didn't have any extremist motives, I don't have them and I can't have them, because I'm a Christian."

According to information on the official website of the court, 27 court hearings in the criminal case have already taken place. At the next hearing, the beginning of the judicial debate is expected, during which the state prosecutor will recommend to the court a punishment for the believer.

During the debate of the parties, the prosecutor requests a sentence of 7 years in prison for the believer to be served in a general regime colony.

Ekaterina delivers her last word, in which she provides evidence of her innocence of extremism and asks the court to acquit her.

Judge of the Gornomariyskiy District Court of the Republic of Mari El, Nikolay Aiplatov, finds Ekaterina Pegasheva guilty because of her religion and sentences her to 6 and a half years of probation with a probation period of 4 years.

The Supreme Court of the Republic of Mari El rejects Ekaterina Pegasheva's appeal. The verdict comes into force.

The Sixth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Samara leaves the verdict and the appeal decision in the case of Ekaterina Pegasheva unchanged.