The Court of Appeal in Tuva Upheld the Verdict Against Anatoliy Senin, One of Jehovah's Witnesses — a 6-Year Suspended Sentence

On June 8, 2023, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tuva upheld the basic punishment for Anatoliy Senin, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, a 6-year suspended sentence, but removed restrictions on his attending mass events from the verdict.

On January 12, 2023, the Kyzylsky City Court found the believer guilty of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Senin's "guilt" comes down to the fact that he "broadcasted video recordings of a religious content, encouraged the audience to pray, sing religious songs and study the Bible".

The verdict has been appealed. According to the defense, the trial at the first instance court was conducted with violations. For example, the court indicated “propaganda of superiority” as the motive for committing the “crime”, but the Criminal Code does not actually provide for such a motive. A religious scholar questioned in court confirmed that Jehovah's Witnesses are tolerant towards members of other religions.

In turn, prosecutor V.V. Khovalyg considered the suspended sentence too lenient and filed an appeal.

Hearings in the Supreme Court of Tuva were held in the presence of 8 listeners. The prosecutor asked the court to cancel Anatoliy Senin's suspended sentence and send him to a penal colony for 7 years. Then the convicted person and the defense presented their closing arguments. The believer could not complete his final statement because the court interrupted him. After a break, the court announced the appeal ruling, finding the believer guilty of extremism but upheld the suspended sentence. The verdict has entered into force, but Anatoly maintains his innocence. He has the right to appeal the verdict in the cassation procedure.

The criminal prosecution of Anatoliy Senin has been ongoing since January 2021, despite the fact that the believer’s mere participation in meetings for worship should not become grounds for accusations of extremism. On October 28, 2021, the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation ruled that the religious services of Jehovah's Witnesses, their joint performance of rites and ceremonies, in themselves do not constitute a crime under Art. 282.2 of the RF Criminal Code.