Left: The pre-trial detention center in the city of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, where the wedding of believers took place. Right: Yuriy Usanov attends the trial on the election of a preventive measure via video link

Left: The pre-trial detention center in the city of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, where the wedding of believers took place. Right: Yuriy Usanov attends the trial on the election of a preventive measure via video link

Left: The pre-trial detention center in the city of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, where the wedding of believers took place. Right: Yuriy Usanov attends the trial on the election of a preventive measure via video link

Inside Penal Colonies and Detention Centers

Believers’ Wedding Ceremony Became an Event for the Detention Center in the Town of Anzhero-Sudzhensk. How Religious Persecution Breaks the Lives of Innocent People

Kemerovo Region

One of Jehovah's Witness Yuriy Usanov, 29, of the town of Tayga, had his pleasant pre-wedding troubles suddenly ended when he was taken to the penitentiary in April 2021 for his faith. His fiancée, Irina Yagunova, was long denied visitation until they were married on September 9, 2021 - right in the jail.

Their wedding Yuriy and Irina originally planned for July 17, 2021. It was to be a long-awaited and joyful event for them, as well as for their families and friends. However, on April 2, Yuri suddenly stopped getting in touch. When his friends arrived, they found the window in his house broken and the bars cut off. It turned out that Yuriy was detained on charges of organizing the activities of a banned organization, as he had been discussing the texts of the Bible with his friends via video link. His house was searched and he has been behind bars ever since.

What happened was a real test for both Yuriy and Irina. The girl was told that she had no right to visits since she was a potential witness in the case. Nevertheless, Irina and Yuriy managed to get permission to register their marriage right in the detention center. On the day of the wedding, friends and relatives came to the building of the pre-trial detention center with flowers, air balloons, and in holiday clothes. Irina was also dressed as a bride. Only she, her parents, and a registrar were allowed inside. The spouses were not allowed to stay together after the wedding. Photography was also forbidden. Now Yuriy remains in the pre-trial detention center, and Irina is at home and is looking for a meeting with her husband in her new status.

Some time ago Yuriy was put in solitary confinement, which allows him to quietly read the Bible and meditate on its pages. He is grateful to everyone who writes letters of encouragement to him: at the beginning of September, there were already 1,179 letters from 29 countries. Of course, most of all he enjoys the letters from his wife, who has become a real support for him. According to the court's decision, his current preventive measure must remain in force until at least October 30, 2021.

Legal scholars and human rights activists working for Russian and international organizations consider the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses a legal conflict and are making efforts to end it as soon as possible.

The case of Usanov and Morozov in Taiga

Case History
In April 2021, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Yuriy Usanov. The next day, his house was searched, and then he was placed in a pre-trial detention center in the city of Anzhero-Sudzhensk. In August of the same year, Maksim Morozov was detained in the city of Tolyatti. He was later taken to the same pre-trial detention center. According to the investigation, the believers “organized the activities of a banned religious organization by means of the computer program  “Zoom” by convening and holding meetings of its members and holding conversations.” In September 2021, Yuriy Usanov registered a marriage with his fiancee Irina right in the pre-trial detention center. The case went to court in March 2022. The believers were taken to each meeting in a police van for seventy kilometers one way. In August 2023, the article of the charge was changed to participation in the activities of an extremist organization. Soon the Judge announced the verdict: three years in a penal colony, which she considered served and released the believers.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kemerovo Region
Locality:
Taiga
Suspected of:
"committed actions of an organizational nature aimed at the continuation and resumption of the illegal activities of the banned organization "Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia" in the form of convening meetings with the participation of residents of the city of Taiga"
Court case number:
12102320014000015
Initiated:
April 1, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigation Department for the city of Taiga of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-2/2023 (1-35/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Тайгинский городской суд Кемеровской области
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Татьяна Ковалёва
Case History
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