Tatyana Sushilnikova in the courtroom. November, 2023.

Tatyana Sushilnikova in the courtroom. November, 2023.

Tatyana Sushilnikova in the courtroom. November, 2023.

Unjust Verdicts

Court Gave Pensioner Tatyana Sushilnikova a 4-Year Suspended Sentence. I'm on Trial for Ordinary Worship of God

Kemerovo Region

On November 15, 2023, the Kuznetskiy District Court finalized its hearing of the case of Tatyana Sushilnikova, 64, one of Jehovah's Witnesses from Novokuznetsk. Judge Valeriya Shipitsyna found her guilty of extremism for peaceful religious practice and gave her a 4-year suspended sentence with a 3-year probation period, as well as 10 months restriction of freedom after serving the main sentence.

Sushilnikova faced prosecution for her faith in June 2021. The armed law enforcement officers raided the home of her and her husband Sergey in the early morning. "My husband was put on the floor like some kind of criminal, and I was pushed against the wall," Tatyana recalls. A year later, a case was initiated against her. The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass charged her with participating in the activity of an extremist organization. As one of the FSB officers later stated during interrogation in court, Tatyana became a defendant in the criminal case, "because she is Sergey's wife, actively participated in meetings, engaged in visits and conversations with the local residents."

The believer pleads not guilty to any crimes against the state or persons: "I have not violated any law of the state, no one has suffered in any way from my actions." According to Tatyana, during the trial, the prosecution did not present any evidence of her guilt. Neither the testimonies of witnesses nor the expert studies (religious, linguistic and phonographic) showed any extremist actions on the part of the believer. It is worth noting that the expert studies were dated at a time when the criminal case had not even been initiated.

As Tatyana says, the unjust prosecution caused a lot of emotional stress and difficulties. She receives support from her husband, who himself is serving a 6-year suspended sentence for his faith, and from friends: "During the prosecution, we try to encourage each other even more, to support each other in word and deed... When we go to court, we naturally feel anxious. And then we see our dear fellow believers, their smiles, their eyes - the anxiety disappears, and it is as if we grow wings."

At the courthouse, a group of friends came to support Tatyana. November, 2023.
At the courthouse, a group of friends came to support Tatyana. November, 2023.
Tatyana and Sergey Sushilnikov near the courthouse. November, 2023.
Tatyana and Sergey Sushilnikov near the courthouse. November, 2023.

In the Kemerovo Region, 18 Jehovah's Witnesses have already been subjected to religious repression. Six men were imprisoned for terms ranging from 3 to 7 years for their faith. Another six residents of Kuzbass were given a suspended sentence. The ECHR judgment in the case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia stated that "the Russian authorities have not presented any evidence which, in accordance with the Court's jurisprudence, could justify an interference with the applicants' rights to freedom of religion, expression or association" (§ 158).

The Case of Sushilnikova in Novokuznetsk

Case History
In the summer of 2021, homes of Jehovah's Witnesses were searched in Novokuznetsk. A year later, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against Tatyana Sushilnikova. She was accused of extremism because of attending meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses and talking about the Bible. In August 2022, the case went to the same court where Tatyana's husband, Sergey, defended his right to practice his religion. At the very first hearing, the judge returned Sushilnikova's case to the prosecutor because of the violations found in the indictment. A month later, in November 2022, the case went back to court. A year later, the judge gave Tatyana a 4-year suspended sentence. In January 2024, the court of appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Kemerovo Region
Locality:
Novokuznetsk
Suspected of:
"personally propagandized the activities of the organization and its ideological attitudes", "participated in missionary activities", "participated in meetings of followers of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, preaching the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses" (from the decision to bring as an accused)
Court case number:
12202320010000232
Initiated:
June 20, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-45/2023 (1-342/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Kuznetskiy District Court of Novokuznetsk
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Valeriya Shipitsyna
Case History
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