In Oryol, Three Believers Were Sentenced to Six Years in a Penal Colony for Discussing the Bible

On October 13, 2023, Natalya Tishkova, judge of the Sovetskiy District Court of the city of Oryol, sentenced Vladimir Piskarev, Vladimir Melnik and Artur Putintsev to 6 years in a penal colony and 1.5 years of restrictions of freedom after their release from prison.

The criminal prosecution of the believers began back in December 2020, when the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Oryol Region initiated a case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. On the day following this, their homes were searched. After that, all three ended up behind bars. The believers spent more than 2 years and 9 months in  the No.1 Oryol Region detention center. The investigation lasted just over a year. During this time, the volume of the original accusation was reduced to leaving only the charge of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. The case has been pending in court since January 2022.

"Neither I, nor Piskarev, nor Putintsev have ever carried out extremist activities," said Vladimir Melnik, speaking with the last word: we professed the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, including meeting and discussing our beliefs with fellow believers. The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed to the courts of appeal and cassation.

Vladimir Piskarev has already suffered two hypertensive crises and a stroke in the pre-trial detention center, was in the regional hospital for more than a week in the presence of the convoy due to an acute attack of cholecystitis. Doctors also diagnosed him with coronary artery disease. Despite this, the court repeatedly extended his detention. As Tatyana, Vladimir's wife, said, prayer, the help of friends, as well as "the example of fellow believers when they were exiled to Siberia" for their faith help them to survive adversity with dignity.

Artur Putintsev, while in detention, faced a serious shock - his 32-year-old younger brother died. In addition, Artur was not given the necessary medications, and also was not provided with dental treatment. Lyudmila, Arthur's wife, says: "Arthur tries to talk about positive things in his letters and sees the care of the [heavenly] Father. He becomes more and more courageous, retains joy. Reading the Bible also gives him a lot of support."

Since 2009, the Oryol Region has been experiencing pressure, threats, and provocations by the FSB against local Jehovah's Witnesses. Over the past six years, five criminal cases have been initiated in the region, including against Danish citizen Dennis Christensen.