In the photo: Defendants in the courtroom before sentencing

In the photo: Defendants in the courtroom before sentencing

In the photo: Defendants in the courtroom before sentencing

Unjust Verdicts

A Kursk Appeals Court Upheld the Sentence of Five Believers, Including a Woman. Andrey Ryshkov has Served his Sentence and was Released

Kursk Region

On January 20, 2022, the Kursk Regional Court denied Andrey Andreyev, Andrey Ryshkov, Aleksander Vospitanyuk, and Artem and Alevtina Bagratyan their appeals against a guilty verdict. It came into force, almost all the defendants received real prison terms for their faith.

However, on the same day Andrey Ryshkov was released from the pre-trial detention center. He served his term in full while being in custody for almost 2 years.

Andrey Ryshkov leaves the pre-trial detention center, having served his sentence in full. January 2022
Andrey Ryshkov leaves the pre-trial detention center, having served his sentence in full. January 2022

On June 3, 2021, the Industrial District Court of Kursk found 5 Jehovah's Witnesses guilty of extremism for their religion. Andrey Andreyev was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison, Andrey Ryshkov — 3 years in prison, Alevtina Bagratyan — 2 years in prison. Alevtina's husband Artem Bagratyan was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, but he served his term while still in jail, and was released in June 2021. The court sentenced Aleksandr Vospitanyuk to 2 years of suspended imprisonment. The believers appealed against the guilty verdict. They still consider themselves innocent of extremism and can appeal the appeal decision to the cassation and international instances.

Meanwhile, Andrey Andreyev continues to be held in the pre-trial detention center. He has spent more than 2 years behind bars. Alevtina Bagratyan is currently under house arrest.

The Federal Security Service of Russia for the Kursk region opened a criminal case against the Kursk believers in September 2019. About a month later, on October 16, groups of law enforcers raided them with searches and accused them of organizing and continuing the activities of a banned religious organization.

During the trial, the defense drew the attention of the court to falsifications in the case file, and several witnesses retracted their earlier testimony, explaining that the investigation put pressure on them. Also, according to them, interrogation protocols contained information they never reported.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution tried to prove their religious views as Jehovah's Witnesses, which they never concealed. The prosecution never explained what real crimes against the state and society were committed by the believers.

Case of Andreyev and Others in Kursk

Case History
In October 2019, the FSB initiated a criminal case against Andrey Andreyev, Artem Bagratyan and his wife Alevtina. Andreyev was accused of organizing the activity of an extremist organization, while the others were accused of participating in it. They were placed in a detention center. Later, another believer, Andrey Ryshkov, was arrested. At the end of 2020, Alevtina Bagratyan was transferred to house arrest. Artem Bagratyan suffers from diabetes and other chronic diseases; his condition required inpatient treatment, which he was denied by the management of the detention center. In June 2021, the court sentenced: Andrey Andreyev to 4.5 years in a penal colony, Andrey Ryshkov - 3 years in a penal colony, Artem Bagratyan - 2.5 years in a penal colony and his wife, Alevtina - 2 years in a penal colony. Aleksandr Vospitanyuk was given a 2-year suspended sentence. In January 2022, the court of appeal, and a year later, the court of cassation, upheld this decision. All of the believers have already served their terms.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kursk Region
Locality:
Kursk
Court case number:
11907380001000031
Initiated:
September 12, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
УФСБ России по Курской области
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-12/2021 (1-410/2020)
Court:
Промышленный районный суд г. Курска
Judge:
Оксана Иванова
Case History
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