In the photo: Elena Reyno-Chernyshova near the courthouse. Birobidzhan, April 22, 2021

In the photo: Elena Reyno-Chernyshova near the courthouse. Birobidzhan, April 22, 2021

In the photo: Elena Reyno-Chernyshova near the courthouse. Birobidzhan, April 22, 2021

Unjust Verdicts

Appeal Court in Birobidzhan Toughens the Sentence for YYelena Reyno-Chernyshova for Her Faith. The Fine was Replaced with a Suspended Sentence

Jewish Autonomous Area

On April 22, 2021, the court of the Jewish Autonomous Region dismissed the appeal of Yelena Reyno-Chernyshova and satisfied the appeal of the prosecutor by toughening her sentence to 2.5 years of probation and 1 year of restraint.

The verdict for allegedly participating in the activities of an extremist organization came into force. The believer still insists on her innocence. She has the right to appeal the verdict in cassation, as well as in international instances.

Two months earlier, Yelena was convicted by the judge of the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region Vladimir Mikhalev. The prosecutor asked for a real term of imprisonment of 4 years, but the court sentenced the believer to a fine of 10,000 rubles. After that, Reyno-Chernyshova appealed against the verdict in a higher court. The deputy prosecutor of Birobidzhan A.A. Vyalkov also submitted an appeal, considering the verdict, on the contrary, too lenient.

During the debate in the court of appeal, the believer noted: “After the verdict was passed, my relatives, acquaintances and colleagues immediately asked me if I would appeal or plead guilty, and I would agree with such a punishment because it was small. But the point here is not how much was awarded, but that I am innocent. How can I agree with the verdict if I have not done anything illegal?”

At the appeal stage, the prosecution continued to insist on the need to deprive Yelena Reyno-Chernyshova of her freedom for 4 years, arguing that the woman “needs to be corrected”. However, no evidence of her illegal activities was provided.

“What do I need to correct !?” Yelena wondered at the hearing. “I try to live in harmony with the principle ‘to love God and your neighbor, not in words, but in deeds.’ How can you be an extremist by living up to these commandments?”

Yelena Reyno-Chernyshova has been under recognizance agreement for over a year and a half. Due to criminal prosecution, she was fired from her job and her accounts were blocked. The hardships experienced undermined the health of the whole family: Yelena's husband was recently diagnosed with a serious illness, and her mother's heart problems worsened.

Yelena is one of 23 defendants in criminal cases against Jehovah's Witnesses in Birobidzhan. The persecution of these peaceful civilians began after “Operation Doomsday.” To date, the courts of the Jewish Autonomous Region have already approved four convictions.

The groundlessness of the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia has been repeatedly emphasized by Russian and foreign scholars and human rights activists. Historian Aleksandr Guryanov, during a recent roundtable dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the deportation of Jehovah's Witnesses to Siberia, noted: “There is some particular bitterness on the part of the government towards this particular confession.”

Case of Reyno-Chernyshova in Birobidzhan

Case History
A civilian resident of Birobidzhan, Yelena Reyno-Chernyshova, was accused of a serious crime - extremism - on the basis of religion. In September 2019, the investigative department of the FSB of Russia for the Jewish Autonomous Region opened a criminal case against her for her faith under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, Yelena “committed deliberate actions related to the resumption and continuation of the activities of the local religious organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the city of Birobidzhan.” The case was considered by the Deputy Chairman of the Birobidzhan District Court Vladimir Mikhalev. In February 2021, the believer was found guilty and fined. Two months later, the Court of Appeal toughened the sentence to 2.5 years of probation. On June 21, 2022, the believer’s suspended sentence was canceled ahead of schedule, and her criminal record was cleared.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Jewish Autonomous Area
Locality:
Birobidzhan
Suspected of:
According to the investigation she “committed intentional acts related to the resumption and continuation of the activities of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Birobidzhan” (from a criminal case order)
Court case number:
11907990001000014
Initiated:
September 29, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Jewish Autonomous Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-20/2021 (1-174/2020)
Court:
Birobidzhanskiy District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region
Judge:
Vladimir Mikhalev
Case History
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