The courthouse of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra. Source: https://yandex.ru/maps
Appeal Overturned the Acquittal of Jehovah's Witnesses from Yugorsk. The Case of Sorokin and Zhukov Will be Re-Examined
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous AreaOn November 20, 2023, the court of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area granted the prosecutor's appeal and overturned the acquittal in the case of Ivan Sorokin and Andrey Zhukov.
In August 2023, the judge of the Yugorsk District Court of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area, Yuriy Klyupa, concluded that by professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, the believers did not violate the law, and acquitted their case.
According to Andrey Zhukov, the first trial, which lasted 1 year and 9 months, "helped many people understand that he and his fellow believers are peaceful citizens." Then both believers, accused of extremism, were acquitted. However, the prosecutor did not agree with this decision and appealed against it.
The case of the two believers is sent for reconsideration to the court of first instance.