Pavel Brilkov with his wife on the day of the appeal hearing near the Kemerovo Regional Court
Pavel Brilkov with his wife on the day of the appeal hearing near the Kemerovo Regional Court
Two Years Suspended Instead of Three Years of Forced Labor for Reading the Bible In Kemerovo, The Court of Appeal Changed the Sentence of a Pensioner
Kemerovo RegionPavel Brilkov, one of Jehovah's Witnesses from Prokopyevsk, will serve a 2-year suspended sentence for his faith based on the March 12, 2024 decision of the Kemerovo Regional Court. Two months earlier, a lower court had sentenced him to 2 years and 10 months of forced labor, despite his disability and retirement age.
Addressing the appeal panel, Brilkov said that he considers the case fabricated, and himself innocent. "My conscience is calm because I have not violated either the Criminal Code or the law of God – my actions have not caused any harm to anyone," he said in his final statement.
The criminal prosecution of Brilkov began in March 2023. Until the verdict was passed, he was under a recognizance agreement.
In the Kemerovo Region, 18 Jehovah's Witnesses are being prosecuted, including three women.
