In the photo: Andrey Okhrimchuk with his wife Ekaterina

In the photo: Andrey Okhrimchuk with his wife Ekaterina

In the photo: Andrey Okhrimchuk with his wife Ekaterina

Unjust Verdicts

Four Years Suspended Sentence for Faith. Appellate Court Approved the Sentence for Rostov Resident Andrey Okhrimchuk

Rostov Region

On October 4, 2021 Rostov regional court upheld the conviction of 42-year-old Andrey Okhrimchuk. By its decision, court equated simple discussion of the Bible with friends to extremist activity.

The believer insists on his innocence. Although the verdict came into force, he has the right to appeal it in cassation and international instances.

Two months earlier, the Leninskiy District Court of Rostov-on-Don found Ohrimchuk guilty of participating in the activities of extremist activity and its financing. Judge Olga Borokhova sentenced the believer to 4 years of suspended sentence and 1 year of restricted freedom, thereby satisfying the prosecutor's request.

Prosecutor A. Chebrikov, who has been involved in trials against other believers from Rostov-on-Don, was the state prosecutor at the appeal hearing.

Andrey is an individual entrepreneur. Together with his wife, Ekaterina, they are raising a young daughter. On May 22, 2019, law enforcement officers broke into the believer's apartment and searched it in the presence of his schoolgirl daughter, and a year and a half later a criminal case was opened against him under two articles. He spent the last 11 months of his life under house arrest. Because Andrey is on the Rosfinmonitoring list, he is restricted in his financial capacity.

During the trial, no evidence of the believer's guilt was provided. The court of the first instance questioned a religious studies professor, who was confused in his testimony and appealed to outdated information about Jehovah's Witnesses. In addition, prosecutor I. Napalkova was present at the sessions. She was prompting her colleagues with pressure tactics, which she had already used on other believers before.

By now, nine believers, including three women, have been sentenced in Rostov-on-Don.

Russian government agencies have repeatedly asserted that liquidation of legal entities does not restrict religious freedom. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated: "Members of a liquidated organization may independently practice their religion, including as members of religious groups, without registration, on the understanding that this does not involve extremist activity. However, law enforcement officers continue to unreasonably hang the label of "extremism" on the legitimate purely religious activities of believers. Andrey Okhrimchuk noticed this contradiction in his situation as well: "I am accused for the fact that I prayed, sang songs and read the Bible.

Human rights activists in Russia and abroad condemn the systematic persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses. Dr. Hubert Seivert, professor at the University of Leipzig, notes: "I cannot imagine that a court with sufficient information could come to the conclusion that Jehovah's Witnesses are extremists or could be dangerous politically [...] Moreover, it is worth recalling that Jehovah's Witnesses were only banned by dictatorial regimes, for example Nazi Germany. And I do not think that today's Russia is like that.

Case of Okhrimchuk in Rostov-on-Don

Case History
In May 2019, security forces searched the home and car of Rostov resident Andrey Okhrimchuk in the presence of his 11-year-old daughter. After that, the believer was taken for interrogation to the Center for Countering Extremism. Investigator I. A. Kalnitsky accused him of participating in the activities of a banned organization and its financing. Andrey was included in the list of extremists of Rosfinmonitoring and placed on recognizance not to leave. In February 2021, the Okhrimchuk case was submitted to the Leninsky District Court of Rostov-on-Don and was appointed to judge Olga Borokhova. In August 2021, she sentenced Andriy Okhrimchuk to 4 years of probation, which is exactly the term requested by the prosecutor for the believer. After 2 months, the Rostov Regional Court approved the conviction. After 4 months, the Court of Cassation in Krasnodar dismissed the believer’s complaint.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Rostov Region
Locality:
Rostov-on-Don
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he "took part in an illegal religious meeting"; paid rent for premises, purchased computer equipment, stationery and household supplies, which is equivalent to "ensuring the activities of an extremist organization."
Court case number:
12002007712000058
Initiated:
October 29, 2020
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
The First Investigation Department (located in Rostov-on-Don) of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-172/2021
Case History
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