Case of Golik in Birobidzhan

The Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia for the Jewish Autonomous Region initiates a criminal case for faith under Article 282.2 (2); According to the investigation, he conducted "a study among the participants of the collection of religious literature of Jehovah's Witnesses, including the publication of Jehovah's Witnesses "Holy Scripture / New World Translation". Innocent victims of law enforcement officers are: Golik Yevgeny (born in 1975).

The case goes to the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region and is referred to Judge Olga Klyuchikova, who is also hearing the case of Artur Lokhvitsky. The criminal case is assigned the number 1-50/2020.

The preliminary hearing is adjourned due to the failure of counsel to appear.

The preliminary hearing shall be resumed. Golik submits 3 petitions. The court satisfies the request for familiarization with the materials of the criminal case (pre-investigation check) and rejects the petitions for the refusal of counsel and for the consolidation of 10 criminal cases.

At 10:00 (local time), hearings begin at the address: Birobidzhan, Pionerskaya str., 32.

The hearing continues. About 20 people come to support the accused. Only 10 are allowed into the courtroom.

The next hearing will be held on February 12 at 11.00. A study of material evidence is planned.

During the court session, written evidence is considered. The court rejects the defense's request to connect the criminal cases of Yevgeniy Golik and Artur Lokhvitsky.

Referee: Olga Klyuchikova. Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region, Birobidzhan, Pionerskaya str., 32.

There are 11 people present at the hearing. Evgeny Golik maintains a positive attitude. The prosecutor completes the consideration of the case materials, in particular written evidence. At the next meeting on March 20, it is planned to study video materials.

Referee: Olga Klyuchikova. Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region (Pionerskaya Street, 32).

The hearing on the case continues in the Birobidzhan District Court. The court skims through videos from worship meetings.

A witness for the prosecution Zvereva, a police officer who carried out operational-search measures against Yevgeny Golik, speaks. In her testimony, she claims that no banned literature was found in the defendant's possession, and she did not hear extremist slogans at the meetings. When asked why she considers Jehovah's Witnesses to be extremists, Zvereva replies: people are unhappy with the preaching.

Yevgeny Golik testifies in court. He says that 25 years ago he participated in hostilities in Chechnya, for which he was awarded by the state. And today the same state accuses him of extremism. The unlawful actions, according to the prosecutor, consist in the fact that Golik took part in religious services, which are regarded by the prosecution as "illegal religious events of Jehovah's Witnesses." However, according to the law, Golik continues, after the liquidation of the LRO, even its former members have the right to worship or worship.

The believer also says: "According to the decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court, the crime imputed to me can only be committed with direct intent and must have a specific purpose. I had no extremist goals. I have not committed any actions of an extremist nature, for example, aimed at inciting hatred or enmity."

Referee: Olga Klyuchikova. Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region (Birobidzhan, Pionerskaya St., 32). Time: 09:30.

In the Birobidzhan district court, the debate on the case begins. Concluding his speech, the state prosecutor recommends that the court sentence Yevgeny Golik to 4 years in prison in a general regime colony for reading the Bible and talking about his faith in Jehovah God with fellow believers.

Yevgeny Golik pronounces the last word in the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region. "I am against extremism, violence and cruelty. I have never felt hatred towards people and have never encouraged anyone to do so. All my actions were presented on video. I studied the Bible with fellow believers, and this was not prohibited by the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation," the believer says, urging Judge Olga Klyuchikova to make an objective and unbiased decision.

The judge schedules the announcement of the verdict on January 20.

Olga Klyuchikova, judge of the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region, announces the verdict: to find Yevgeny Golik guilty under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, to impose a sentence of 2.5 years of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of 3 years and restriction of liberty for 1 year.

The court of the Jewish Autonomous Region does not satisfy the appeal of Yevgeny Golik and leaves the sentence unchanged - 2.5 years of suspended sentence. The verdict comes into force.

The Ninth Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction dismisses Yevgeniy's appeals against the court's appeal decision and the verdict, leaving it unchanged. The believer has the right to appeal this verdict to the Supreme Court of Russia.