In the Elbrus region, a peaceful respected person is being tried for his faith

In the dock of the Prokhladnensky city court is 70-year-old Arkady Akopovich Hakobyan, who worked all his life with his own hands, fled to the city of Prokhladny (Kabardino-Balkaria) from ethnic violence on the territory of Azerbaijan. Arkadya Akopovich is a Jehovah's Witness by religion, which is why he is now being prosecuted under the article "extremism" (part 1 of article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

The accusation is based on the testimony of five prosecution witnesses who, not being followers of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, claim that they allegedly distributed Jehovah's Witnesses publications en masse on behalf of Hakobyan only after attending several religious meetings (which is implausible in itself). In addition, these people claim that during the service, Hakobyan gave a speech in which he criticized other religions. Earlier, Hakobyan appealed to the Investigative Committee of Russia with a request to bring these five witnesses to criminal responsibility for false testimony. However, his criminal complaint has not yet been properly vetted.

The court began consideration of the case on May 16, 2017. 9 volumes of the case were read out and prosecution witnesses were questioned. Due to the weakness of the evidence, the state prosecutor even involved as witnesses for the prosecution police officers who did not see the facts of the distribution of literature and did not attend religious services, but only participated in operational-search actions against believers. On January 10, 2018, the public prosecutor announced the completion of the presentation of evidence.

On January 11, 30 and 31, 2018, the defense presented its evidence to the court. Lawyers claim that there was no crime itself, that is, Hakobyan did not give the speech that the prosecution witnesses spoke about. Interestingly, the lawyers provided the court with information about the location of the mobile phones of the prosecution witnesses, and it turned out that none of them was even near the worship building on the specified day. In order to somehow justify themselves, prosecution witnesses falsely stated that believers "were forbidden to bring mobile phones to worship services," so they "did not take them with them." Naturally, the lawyers were also able to present evidence to the court that there is no ban on mobile phones, that believers brought phones with them to worship services and even broadcast a spiritual program for those who are sick. This served as additional evidence of perjury. In addition, the prosecution witnesses incorrectly named both the interior of the worship building and the composition of the religious groups in which the services were held. Finally, numerous testimonies were presented to the court that these citizens were not present at the service.

Sonya Hakobyan, the wife of the defendant, was questioned as a witness for the defense. Unlike Arkadi Akopovich, she is not a baptized Jehovah's Witness. Nevertheless, they have been happily married for about 40 years. Since becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses 25 years ago, her husband has never forced her or her children to change their religion. All this does not correspond to the accusation of "extremism" brought against Hakobyan. Both the family and neighbors, including people of different nationalities, cultures and religions, respect Arkada, know him as a kind and sympathetic person.

The hearing of the case will continue in the Prokhladnensky City Court on February 20, 2018 at 10:00.