Court in the Amur Region Handed Down Suspended Sentences of 2 to 3 Years to Three Women for Reading the Bible

On September 21, 2023, Ivan Moiseyenko, Judge of the Zeya District Court of the Amur Region, found Margarita Moiseyenko, 44, Yelena Yatsyk, 51, and Galina Yatsik, 72, guilty of participating in the activity of an extremist organization and gave them supsended sentences.

The prosecutor requested to send the believers to a penal colony for terms of 2.5 and 3 years, but the court gave Margarita Moiseyenko, a 3-year suspended sentence with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to directing and participating in the work of public organizations for 3 years and restriction of freedom for 10 months with a 3-year probation period. Galina Yatsik received a 2-year suspended sentence with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to directing and participating in the work of public organizations for 3 years, restriction of freedom for 6 months with a 2-year probation period. The judge gave Yelena Yatsyk to 2.5-years suspended sentence with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to directing and participating in the work of public organizations for 3 years, restriction of freedom for 8 months with a 2-year probation period. The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed.

The believers do not agree with the court's decision. Yelena Yatsyk emphasized this position when she stated in her final statement: "I do not consider myself guilty and do not intend to give up my religious beliefs. I am convinced that I have the right to continue to practice the religion I have chosen. This right is guaranteed to me by Article 28 of the RF Constitution. Galina Yatsik told the court: "There is no corpus delicti in my actions, as my motive is love for God and love for people... My conscience is clear, both before God and before the state."

In March 2019, the first search took place at the Moiseyenko family home after which a criminal case was initiated against Konstantin, Margarita's husband. A year and a half later, searches were also carried out at the homes of Yelena Yatsyk and Galina Yatsik. In November 2021, investigator V. S. Obukhov, known for other cases against believers from the Amur Region, initiated a criminal case against the three women. In March 2023, the case went to court.

"The reality today is that peaceful citizens are groundlessly labeled extremists," Margarita Moiseyenko said before the verdict. "Of course, the prosecutor did not establish any signs of extremist activity, but the way I expressed my faith." She added: "Believing in God for me is the same as breathing. If I am not allowed to peacefully practice my faith because it is deemed as extremism, although there is not even a hint of such, it makes me feel as if I can't breathe.

In the Amur Region, 23 Jehovah's Witnesses, including 5 women, have already been made defendants in criminal cases for their faith.