In the photo: Lyudmila Ponomarenko

In the photo: Lyudmila Ponomarenko

In the photo: Lyudmila Ponomarenko

Unjust Verdicts

A Court in Rostov-on-Don Sentenced a 71-Year-Old Woman to Two Years of Suspended Imprisonment for Believing in Jehovah's God

Rostov Region

On May 18, 2021 the judge of Leninsky district court of Rostov-on-Don Alexander Osipov found Lyudmila Ponomarenko guilty of participation in extremist activity - this is how the court interpreted her religious beliefs. The believer was sentenced to 2 years of suspended imprisonment—the exact amount the prosecutor asked.

The verdict has not come into force and can be appealed. The pensioner insists on her complete innocence. There are no victims in the case.

On June 6, 2019, the First Investigation Department (based in Rostov-on-Don) of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against Lyudmila Ponomarenko under Part 2 of Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for participation in divine services and preaching. Earlier, in the spring of the same year, law enforcement officers came to her apartment with a search. They confiscated a phone, a tablet, Bibles in various editions, a Bible dictionary, a reference book and a religious studies monograph from a pensioner who was caring for her sick husband. On August 18, 2020, she found herself under recognizance not to leave. On September 30, the case went to court.

Speaking in court with the last word, Lyudmila Ponomarenko noted: “The indictment does not indicate with what words, when, under what circumstances I advocated the advantage of some people over others. Also, it is not indicated in what way, on what date, at what time and who exactly I encouraged to refuse medical care, to reject state bodies or to break off family relations. I did nothing of the kind and no evidence to the contrary was presented in court. It turns out that I am being judged for being an honest person who respects and observes the laws of the country in which I live; as a believer, I love people and is not able to harm them; I abide by the laws of the country and exercise my right to profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. "

9 criminal cases against believers from the Rostov region are at different stages of production. Three of Jehovah's Witnesses have already received convictions and have entered into force. Earlier, in 2016, under Art. 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, 16 believers from Taganrog were found guilty.

In 2018, 60 prominent Russian human rights defenders issued a statement saying: “What is happening to them is, in fact, happening to us. This is a test of the immune forces of society. The persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses shows the groundlessness of anti-extremist legislation in general. If society does not protect Jehovah's Witnesses, if they are not restored to their rights, this will mean that anyone can be declared an extremist. […] In the story of how a person found answers from Jehovah's Witnesses to questions that a Catholic priest could not resolve, the courts saw propaganda of religious superiority — that is all extremism. Such "extremism", and much more brutal, can be found in doctrinal, liturgical and other texts of most confessions. If one approaches religious scriptures with the same yardstick, all religions will have to be banned. "

Case of Ponomarenko in Rostov-on-Don

Case History
At the age of 70, Lyudmila Ponomarenko from Rostov-on-Don unexpectedly found herself in the dock on charges of extremist activity. In the spring of 2019, law enforcement officers came to the apartment of a pensioner caring for her seriously ill husband with a search. The First Investigation Department (based in Rostov-on-Don) of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case against the believer under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code for participation in worship services and preaching. In the fall of 2020, hearings began in the Leninsky District Court under the chairmanship of Judge Alexander Osipov. During the hearing, one of the prosecution witnesses stated that his testimony had been falsified and that investigator A. A. Chaikin had made threats. On May 18, 2021, the judge of the Leninsky District Court of Rostov-on-Don, Alexander Osipov, sentenced the elderly believer to 2 years of suspended imprisonment.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Rostov Region
Locality:
Rostov-on-Don
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, she participated in religious meetings, including services; provided housing for meetings; made donations; engaged in campaigning among non-followers of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses
Court case number:
11902007712000040
Initiated:
June 6, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
First Investigation Department (with deployment in Rostov-on-Don) of the Main Investigation Department of the IC of the Russian Federation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-35/2021 (1-375/2020)
Court:
Ленинский районный суд г. Ростов-на-Дону
Judge:
Александр Осипов
Case History
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