In the photo: Gennady German, Roman Gridasov, Alexey Miretsky, Alexey Budenchuk, September 2022

In the photo: Gennady German, Roman Gridasov, Alexey Miretsky, Alexey Budenchuk, September 2022

In the photo: Gennady German, Roman Gridasov, Alexey Miretsky, Alexey Budenchuk, September 2022

Unjust Verdicts

An Appeals Court Left Unchanged the Sentence of Six Saratov Residents, Depriving Them of the Right to Acquital. Believers Have Already Served Prison Terms

Saratov Region

On September 8, 2022, the First Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction in Saratov dismissed the complaint of Bazhenov, Budenchuk, Makhammadiev, Gridasov, German and Miretskiy. A year ago, the last of 6 Jehovah's Witnesses convicted for faith was released.

The criminal prosecution of peaceful believers began in 2018. Prior to that, they were followed for a year, making audio and video recordings of services they attended. Following the initiation of a criminal case, searches and arrests took place. In September 2019, the court of first instance found the citizens of Saratov guilty of extremism. After 3 months the verdict entered into force . The criminal prosecution of peaceful believers began in 2018. Prior to that, they were followed for a year, audio and video recordings of services they attended were being made. Following the initiation of a criminal case, searches and arrests took place. In September 2019, the court of first instance found the citizens of Saratov guilty of extremism. After 3 months, the verdict entered into force.

Konstantin Bazhenov served his sentence in penal colony No. 3 in the Ulyanovsk region. The rest—in penal colony No. 1 in the Orenburg region. The courts groundlessly denied all six of them parole. As a result, only Konstantin Bazhenov achieved parole (after the 8th promotion from the administration of the colony)—two months before the end of his term. The rest of the believers have fully served their punishment. Konstantin Bazhenov and Aleksey Budenchuk spent 3.5 years in the colony, Feliks Makhammadiev—3 years, and Roman Gridasov, Gennadiy German and Aleksey Miretskiy—2 years each.

After being released from the colony, Bazhenov and Makhammadiev were immediately placed in the Center for the temporary detention of foreign citizens and stateless persons, and then deported (Konstantin to Ukraine, and Feliks to Uzbekistan).

Russian human rights activists and the international community condemn the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. The ECtHR recognized this persecution to be groundless and unlawful.

Case of Bazhenov and Others in Saratov

Case History
In September 2019, Judge Dmitry Larin immediately sent 6 Saratov residents to prison for a term of 2 to 3.5 years just for reading the Bible, singing songs and praying. Since 2017, security forces have been conducting covert surveillance of believers. In the summer of 2018, their homes were searched with banned literature planted. While the investigation was underway, they had to go to a pre-trial detention center, under house arrest and under recognizance not to leave. A year later, despite the absence of victims in the case, the believers were found guilty. Upon arrival at the Orenburg colony, 5 out of 6 convicted believers were beaten by the staff of the institution. Mahammadiev was hospitalized, and the rest were placed in a punishment cell for a while. Saratov prisoners of conscience have mastered various professions in prison. In May 2020, Mahammadiev and Bazhenov were stripped of their Russian citizenship and, after their release, deported from Russia. All 6 believers have already served their sentences. In September 2022, the cassation court dismissed the complaint, and the verdict and the appellate ruling were unchanged.
Timeline

Persons in case

Bazhenov
Konstantin
Budenchuk
Aleksey
German
Gennadiy
Gridasov
Roman
Makhammadiyev
Feliks
Miretskiy
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Saratov Region
Locality:
Saratov
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others he conducted religious services, which is interpreted as “organising the activity of an extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11807630001000037
Initiated:
June 9, 2018
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Saratov Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-333/2019
Case History