Case of Guzeva in Birobidzhan

D. Yankin, a senior investigator-criminalist of the investigative department of the FSB of Russia for the Jewish Autonomous Region, initiates 6 criminal cases for faith against 6 women at once: 57-year-old Irina Lokhvitskaya, 26-year-old Anna Lokhvitskaya, 26-year-old Tatyana Sholner, 35-year-old Tatyana Zagulina, 40-year-old Anastasia Guzeva and 41-year-old Nataliya Kriger . All six women are charged with part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to investigators, they resumed the activities of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Birobidzhan, which was liquidated in 2016, as well as the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. (Earlier, the defendants in the criminal case under similar articles were the husbands of Natalia Krieger, Tatyana Zagulina and Anastasia Guzeva - Valery Krieger, Dmitry Zagulin and Konstantin Guzev. And Irina and Anna Lokhvitsky were prosecuted after their son and husband Artur Lokhvitsky.)

FSB investigator D. Yankin is initiating another case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against 44-year-old Andrey Gubin. On the same day, I. Fedorov, a senior investigator of the FSB Investigation Department, opened a similar case against 55-year-old Oleg Postnikov. (A total of 19 criminal cases were initiated against 22 believers in the city.)

The judge of the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region, Vasilina Bezotecheskikh, without the participation of the parties, makes a decision on the appointment of a closed court hearing in the criminal case of Irina Lokhvitskaya. On the same day, three other women are being heard before the same judge. Among them are Anna Lokhvitskaya, Irina's daughter-in-law, as well as Natalia Krieger and Anastasia Guzeva.

The case will be considered behind closed doors, i.e. without the participation of the media, listeners and relatives. According to the judge, an open hearing of the case may lead to the disclosure of secrets protected by law - the personal data of minors whose data appear in the case file.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 29, 2020.

The first court hearing on the merits is underway.

At the very beginning of the court session, Anastasia Guzeva explains to the court the meaning of the name of God "Jehovah". All participants in the process listen attentively.

The court is reviewing the video materials of the case. Prosecution witness Zvereva, who conducted operational-search activities together with the FSB, is being interrogated. She describes Guzeva "as a participant [of worship], but not as active." The witness also confirms that she did not hear any extremist statements from the defendant.

Anastasia Guzeva comments on the video fragments of the events imputed to her: "Nothing extremist took place at religious meetings, but they talk about love and peace."

A defence witness is being questioned. Tatiana expresses her attitude to the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses as follows: "I believe that this is everyone's choice. Man believes in God. I also have acquaintances with Muslims. I'm Orthodox."

She says about Anastasia: "Kind, non-aggressive, never insulted anyone. I can only describe it on the positive side." She also emphasizes that for 20 years of their acquaintance, the defendant has not changed: "Nastya remained kind, attentive, sympathetic. I've never even heard her raise her voice at anyone."

The witness confirms that she did not hear from Anastasia any calls for the overthrow of the government or violence, or proposals to change her religion.

When asked by the prosecutor whether Anastasiya is a member of any organization, Tatyana replies: "She is just a believer, she reads the Bible. I don't even know anything about the organization. Believers, well, believers."

During the debate, the prosecutor requested a sentence of 4 years in prison and 2 years of restriction of liberty (a ban on changing her place of residence and leaving the city).

In the debate, Anstasia Guzeva's lawyer and the believer herself take the floor.

In her speech, Guzeva notes that during the court hearings it was proved that there was no crime in the actions that are imputed to her. Anastasia explains why she did not stop professing the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses and meeting with fellow believers: "Stop fulfilling the commandments of Christ, who gathered his disciples together and taught them ... means [for me] a renunciation of the faith."

Regarding the video recordings of the services, which the investigation presented as evidence of her guilt, Anastasia states: "[When watching the videos] it was absolutely clearly established that there were no calls to commit illegal actions against any group of people or against any person. On the contrary, you and I have heard and seen how believers, including myself, have been encouraged to do good to other people."

At the next meeting, Anastasia is scheduled to deliver her last word.

The court found Anastasiya Guzeva guilty and sentenced her to 2.5 years probation, 2 years of probation and 1 year of restriction of freedom. The court found Anastasiya Guzeva guilty and sentenced her to 2.5 years probation, 2 years of probation and 1 year of restriction of freedom.

The court of the Jewish Autonomous Region refuses to satisfy Anastasia Guzeva's appeal against the decision of the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region. The verdict of the believer comes into force.