In the photo: Evgeny Deshko, Valery Shalev, Ruslan Korolev

In the photo: Evgeny Deshko, Valery Shalev, Ruslan Korolev

In the photo: Evgeny Deshko, Valery Shalev, Ruslan Korolev

Criminal trial

A Smolensk prosecutor demanded that three believers be sent to a correctional colony for eight and nine years. They read the Bible together

Smolensk Region

On March 22, 2021, at a meeting of the Industrial District Court of Smolensk, the prosecutor asked to send three Jehovah's Witnesses to jail for discussing Christian teachings: 31-year-old Yevgeny Deshko and 43-year-old Valery Shalev for 8 years, and their 38-year-old fellow believer Ruslan Korolev — for 9 years.

The criminal prosecution of believers has been going on for almost 2 years. During this time, they spent 4 to 8 months in jail and another 3 to 7 months under house arrest. Initially, there were 4 persons involved in the case. However, one of the accused, Viktor Malkov, died without waiting for the trial. Being in a pre-trial detention center and under house arrest, he could not receive proper treatment, without which his poor health could not withstand.

According to the prosecutor, the believers "organized the activities of the banned organization" by continuing to practice the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, praying, reading and discussing the Bible together with others.

On March 25, believers are expected to speak at the debate. Their final speech is scheduled for March 29, after which the date of the verdict will be announced.

The Russian authorities have repeatedly stressed that the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited. The international and Russian human rights community consider the criminal prosecution of believers to be religious repression.

Case of Shalev and Others in Smolensk

Case History
In April 2019, Jehovah’s Witnesses from Smolensk—Ruslan Korolev, Valery Shalev, and Viktor Malkov—were sent to jail. The day before, searches were carried out in their homes. Yevgeny Deshko was detained in Dagomys (Krasnodar Territory) as the fourth suspect in this criminal case. The believers spent 4 to 8 months in jail and another 3 to 7 months under house arrest. Due to the stress and conditions of detention in the pre-trial detention center, Viktor’s heart problems worsened, and he died without waiting for the trial. The criminal case under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation was investigated by the FSB of Russia in the Smolensk Region. In the Industrial District Court of Smolensk, the prosecutor asked Judge Marina Masalskaya to send Shalev and Deshko to jail for 8 years, and Korolev for 9 years for discussing Christian teachings. In April 2021, a judge found them guilty, but sentenced them to suspended imprisonment ranging from 6 to 6.5 years. In August 2021, the Court of Appeal approved the punishment for the believers. The cassation court upheld the decisions of the lower courts.
Timeline

Persons in case

Dechko
Yevgeniy
Korolev
Ruslan
Malkov
Viktor
Shalev
Valeriy

Criminal case

Region:
Smolensk Region
Locality:
Smolensk
Suspected of:
According to the investigation he “organized and held a joint prayer to ‘Jehovah’, carried out a demonstration of videos ... informing adherents on issues of participation in conventions ... organizing and conducting subsequent joint meetings” (from the indictment)
Court case number:
11907660001000014
Initiated:
April 25, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Smolensk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-2/2021 (1-159/2020)
Court:
Promyshlenniy District Court of the City of Smolensk
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Marina Masalskaya
Case History
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