From left to right: Irina, Alexandr Serebryakov and Yuri Temirbulatov at the courthouse. August 2022

From left to right: Irina, Alexandr Serebryakov and Yuri Temirbulatov at the courthouse. August 2022

From left to right: Irina, Alexandr Serebryakov and Yuri Temirbulatov at the courthouse. August 2022

Unjust Verdicts

The Appeal Court in Moscow Upheld the Verdict for Serebryakov and Temirbulatov. Believers given a 6 year suspended sentence.

Moscow

On November 21, 2022, the Moscow City Court rejected the appeals of Yuriy Temirbulatov, Aleksandr Serebryakov and their defense lawyers and did not change the sentence — 6 year suspended sentence each. The believers still insist on their complete innocence and can file a cassation appeal.

In August 2022, the Golovinsky District Court of Moscow found the believers guilty of organizing the activity of an extremist organization because they participated in religious services of Jehovah's Witnesses. Until the passing of this sentence—for a year and a half—the men were in detention. Yuriy Temirbulatov was not provided with treatment for a long time, despite the fact that he suffered from pain and needed urgent hospitalization in a specialized cancer prevention and treatment center. Aleksandr Serebryakov, contrary to the norms of the law, was for some time in a cell where relapsed prisoners were kept.

Courts in Moscow  are hearing 3 more criminal cases against 11 believers. In total, 13 Jehovah's Witnesses living in this region are undergoing criminal prosecution for their faith.

The case of Serebryakov and Temirbulatov in Moscow

Case History
Since 2019, believers in Moscow have been under surveillance. In February 2021, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and the National Guard broke into 16 apartments of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Moscow and the Moscow Region. Some reported beatings and money going missing during the search. Alexandr Serebryakov and Yuriy Temirbulatov were put in detention, although Alexandr was taking care of his elderly disabled mother, and Yuriy, the father of three children, suffers from various illnesses and has a dependent mother-in-law who is disabled. While behind bars, Alexandr was seriously ill with COVID-19, and Yuriy underwent a serious operation (he had developed an oncological disease). The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation considered the reading of the Bible and the singing of religious songs as organizing the activity of an extremist organization. The case went to court in January 2022. In August 2022, the believers were given a 6 year suspended sentence, and in November 2022, the Appeal Court upheld this sentence.
Timeline

Persons in case

Serebryakov
Aleksandr
Temirbulatov
Yuriy

Criminal case

Region:
Moscow
Locality:
Moscow
Suspected of:
"in the period from 06.09.2027 to 10.02.2021, acting illegally and intentionally, pursuing the goal of spreading the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, organized the activities of the local religious division of the said organization" (from the decision to initiate a criminal case)
Court case number:
12102450011000009
Initiated:
February 10, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Department for Investigating Especially Important Cases of the Investigative Directorate for the Northern Administrative District of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the City of Moscow
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
01-0122/2022
Court:
Golovinskiy District Court of the City of Moscow
Judge:
Sergey Bazarov
Case History
Back to top