Illustrative photo. Photo source: Moscow-Live Photobank / CC BY-SA 2.0

Illustrative photo. Photo source: Moscow-Live Photobank / CC BY-SA 2.0

Illustrative photo. Photo source: Moscow-Live Photobank / CC BY-SA 2.0

Actions of Law Enforcement Officers

Series of Searches Took Place in the Altai Republic. A Criminal Case was Initiated Against a Believer Whom the Court Previously Acquitted on Two Occasions

Altai

On January 16, 2022, at least 4 homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in Gorno-Altaysk. Against the 45-year-old Aleksandr Kalistratov, a criminal case was reopened under an extremist article. The Altai Republic has become the 71st region of Russia where citizens are subjected to repression only because of their faith.

Kalistratov first encountered religious discrimination in 2000. The believer decided to exercise his right to alternative civilian service, but a criminal case was opened against him for refusing to take up arms. Aleksandr was arrested and placed in a pre-trial detention center for 21 days. However, in May 2000, the Gorno-Altai City Court acquitted Kalistratov, not seeing corpus delicti in his actions and recognized his right to rehabilitation.

In 2010, for his beliefs, Aleksandr again found himself in the dock: this time on charges of extremism. Within a year and a half, his case was considered twice. As a result, the first conviction in the history of modern Russia was passed against a Jehovah's Witness under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In the end, the believer managed to defend his honest name: the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic found Aleksandr innocent. As a result, Kalistratov was re-acquitted with the right to rehabilitation.

The high-profile case of Kalistratov was the reason for holding a press conference held on November 11, 2010 at the Independent Press Center in Moscow. Russian and foreign human rights activists condemned the criminal prosecution of Kalistratov

Commenting on his acquittal in 2011, the believer said: “I am pleased that in the end justice was served. I really hope that my life will return to normal and that I can safely practice my faith as a Jehovah's Witness.”

Despite the decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of October 28, 2021, the appeals of human rights activists and the world community, repressions of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia continue. Aleksandr Kalistratov, like hundreds of other believers, faces a long prison term just because he did not give up his peaceful beliefs and continued to believe in Jehovah God.

The Case of Kalistratov in Gorno-Altaysk

Case History
Aleksandr Kalistratov has faced criminal prosecution for the third time because of his faith. In 2000, he was arrested and placed in a pretrial detention center for 21 days for refusing to take up arms. However, he was later acquitted by the court with the right to rehabilitation. In 2010, again for his beliefs Aleksandr found himself in the dock, on charges of extremism. His case was considered twice within 1.5 years. As a result, the first guilty verdict under Article 282 of the RF CrC was passed against one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Eventually, the believer managed to defend his honest name: the Supreme Court of the Altai Republic found Kalistratov not guilty with the right to rehabilitation. But in December 2021, he again became a defendant in a criminal case under the same article for extremism. Kalistratov’s house was searched, after which the believer was placed under a recognizance agreement. In February 2023, the court gave Aleksandr a 6.5-year suspended sentence. The courts of appeal and cassation upheld this verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Altai
Locality:
Gorno-Altaisk
Suspected of:
convened meetings, "determined the places and methods of holding them through software for video calls through the information and telecommunication network "Internet" for the purpose of secrecy" (from the decision to bring as an accused)
Court case number:
12102840008000049
Initiated:
December 16, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Altai Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-22/2023 (1-471/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Gorno-Altaysk City Court for the Altai Republic
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Natalya Sokolova
Case History
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