Unjust Verdicts

"I Was Found Guilty Only for Being One of Jehovah's Witnesses." Court of Appeal Upheld the Suspended Sentence for Valeriy Vyaznikov

Primorye Territory

On January 11, 2023, the Primorye Territory Court upheld the verdict of Valeriy Vyaznikov, a 60-year-old resident of Luchegorsk, – a 2.5-year suspended sentence for participating in the "activity of a banned organization." The believer considers this decision unjust.

The court considered the fact that Vyaznikov is one of Jehovah's Witnesses to be evidence of extremism. The defendant noted: "I was convicted only for peacefully practicing my religion, which was demonstrated by the fact that I once talked about my beliefs and the teachings of the Bible with a young man who turned out to be a law enforcement officer."

The book "The People Who Are Steadfast Under Persecution," published in 2023 by religious scholar Sergei Ivanenko, PhD in Philosophy, and Elena Volkova, PhD in Cultural Studies, notes: "Russia is the only country where they [Jehovah's Witnesses] are accused of extremism."

It is noteworthy that about 26% of the nearly 800 Jehovah's Witnesses prosecuted in Russia for their faith are over 60 years old.

The Case of Vyaznikov in Luchegorsk

Case History
In September 2018, law enforcement officers began operational-search measures against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Luchegorsk. An undercover agent, feigning an interest in the Bible, recorded his conversations with believers. In July 2021, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case in which it accused Valeriy Vyaznikov from the village of Chegdomyn of extremism because he had discussed the Bible with others. In December 2022, the case was transferred to a court located 1,000 kilometers away from the believer’s place of residence. He was allowed to participate in most of the hearings via videoconferencing. In November 2023, the court gave Vyaznikov a 2.5-year suspended sentence, then the courts of appeal and cassation upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Vyaznikov
Valeriy

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Luchegorsk
Suspected of:
"involved a resident of Luchegorsk in the activities of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses";
Court case number:
42202050012000036
Initiated:
July 16, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department for Dalnerechensk of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Primorsky Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-88/2023 (1-317/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Пожарский районный суд Приморского края
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Нина Калашник
Case History
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