Galina Yatsik, Margarita Moiseyenko and Yelena Yatsyk near the Zeyskiy District Court. September, 2023.

Galina Yatsik, Margarita Moiseyenko and Yelena Yatsyk near the Zeyskiy District Court. September, 2023.

Galina Yatsik, Margarita Moiseyenko and Yelena Yatsyk near the Zeyskiy District Court. September, 2023.

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal Upheld Suspended Sentences for Three Women from the Amur Region, Removing Some of the Additional Restrictions

Amur Region

On November 21, 2023, the panel of judges of the Amur Regional Court upheld the verdict of the court of first instance against Margarita Moiseyenko, Yelena Yatsyk and Galina Yatsik, excluding from it additional punishment in the form of deprivation of the right to engage in activity related to participation in the work of public organizations.

In September 2023, the Zeyskiy District Court of the Amur Region gave Margarita Moiseyenko a 3-year suspended sentence, Yelena Yatsyk 2.5 years, and Galina Yatsik 2 years, finding them guilty of participating in the activity of an extremist organization.

Margarita Moiseyenko is one of three female residents of Zeya convicted for their faith. Her husband, Konstantin, had also previously been convicted as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. November 2023
Margarita Moiseyenko is one of three female residents of Zeya convicted for their faith. Her husband, Konstantin, had also previously been convicted as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. November 2023

The believers still insist on their complete innocence and can appeal this decision in the cassation procedure. "The verdict is based only on the fact that I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was convicted because I believe in God and use the right guaranteed by Article 28 of the RF Constitution," Margarita Moiseyenko said at the appeal hearing.

Margarita's lawyer called the verdict unlawful and said that it should be cancelled: "I believe that a miscarriage of justice occured due to the incorrect assessment of my client's day to day practice of her religious beliefs as criminal acts, which led to her conviction and unjustly severe punishment... The RF Supreme Court notes that a guilty verdict must be decided on reliable evidence.”

Margarita added: "The court did not establish in my actions such motives for behavior as political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity."

The case of Margarita Moiseenko and others in Zeya

Case History
In October 2020, searches were carried out in 8 homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which were supervised by the FSB. In November 2021, a criminal case was initiated against Margarita Moiseenko, whose husband Konstantinhas already been sentenced to 6 years suspended for believing in Jehovah God, Galina Yatsyk and Yelena Yatsyk for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The women were given a written undertaking not to leave the place. In March 2023, their case went to court. The prosecutor requested 2.5 to 3 years in prison for women. In September, the court sentenced them to suspended sentences: Margarita Moiseenko to three years, Elena Yatsyk to two and a half, and Galina Yatsyk to two years. In November, an appeal upheld the verdict, excluding the ban on holding certain positions.
Timeline

Persons in case

Moiseyenko
Margarita
Yatsik
Galina
Yatsyk
Yelena

Criminal case

Region:
Amur Region
Locality:
Zeya
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "realizing that by his actions he undermines the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the state ... were directly involved in... religious events."
Court case number:
12107100001000049
Initiated:
November 22, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia in the Amur Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-62/2023
Court of First Instance:
Zeyskiy District Court of the Amur Region
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Ivan Moiseyenko
Case History
Back to top