Photo source: Andrey Popov / stock.adobe.com

Photo source: Andrey Popov / stock.adobe.com

Photo source: Andrey Popov / stock.adobe.com

Criminal trial

In Primorsky Krai, the trial of four believers of Spassk-Dalniy begins

Primorye Territory

On December 30, 2019, the Spassky District Court, chaired by Judge Pavel Bobrovich, will host the first hearing in the case of 29-year-old Dmitry Malevaniy, 60-year-old Aleksey Trofimov, 60-year-old Olga Panyuta and 67-year-old Olga Opaleva.

These civilians became accused after a wave of searches that security forces conducted in this small seaside town on November 25, 2018. Peaceful believers were under house arrest for almost a year, and only in November 2019 were they released on their own recognizance. The criminal prosecution seriously affected the health of Olga Opaleva, who, due to stress, suffered a stroke right in the convoy car.

As in other similar cases, the investigation believes that local believers continued the activities of the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses, which was liquidated in Russia. Their religious activities are equated with extremist activities. Law-abiding, peaceful citizens face real prison terms simply because they continue to believe in Jehovah God.

Case of Malevaniy and Others in Spassk-Dalny

Case History
In the fall of 2018, searches were carried out in Spassk-Dalny at the homes of Dmitry Malevany, Alexei Trofimov, Olga Panyuta, Olga Opaleva and their fellow believers. The reason for the persecution of civilians was their faith in Jehovah God. The believers were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization and involving others in it. The case is based on the testimony of secret witnesses “Sidorova” and “Ivanova”, who monitored the believers on instructions from the FSB. On the eve of the search, Olga Opaleva suffered a heart attack, and later, on the way to court, a stroke. The four believers spent a year under house arrest, and since November 2019 they have been under a recognizance agreement. In December 2019, the case went to court. In February 2023, the believers were sentenced: Dmitry Malevanoy was given 7 years in a penal colony, Alexey Trofimov  6.5 years in prison, Olga Panyuta - 4.5 years in prison, and Olga Opaleva - 5 years suspended. The appeal reduced each of these terms by two months, the cassation supported this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Trofimov
Aleksey
Malevaniy
Dmitriy
Opaleva
Olga
Panyuta
Olga

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Spassk-Dalny
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others he conducted religious services, which is interpreted as organising the activity of an extremist organisation (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802050020000065
Initiated:
November 12, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Primorskiy Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)
Court case number:
1-4/2023 (1-4/2022; 1-7/2021; 1-70/2020; 1-570/2019)
Court of First Instance:
Спасский районный суд Приморского края
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Павел Бобрович
Case History
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