The Second Case of Postnikov in Birobidzhan

Dmitriy Yankin, senior investigator-criminalist of the investigation department of the FSB of Russia for the Jewish Autonomous Region, initiates a criminal case under part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of the activities of an extremist organization) against Oleg Postnikov.

The court places Oleg Postnikov in a pre-trial detention center.

It becomes known that a trial on restriction measure for Oleg Postnikov was held and he was placed in a pre-trial detention center for two months.

Oleg Postnikov is alone in the cell. In the first days after his arrest, he experienced problems with blood pressure due to the lack of necessary medications. The believer has the opportunity to take walks. He has already received several letters of support electronically.

Oleg Postnikov has been transferred from the medical unit, where he spent more than a month, to the general building. He is kept alone in a double cell. The believer feels fine, continues to exercise, receives letters of support and responds to them. He has a Bible. Parcels with food and medicines are given to him regularly.

Letters of support and communication with his wife Agnessa help Oleg not to succumb to despondency. The believer is allowed hour-long walks in the yard, where he breathes fresh air and watches the ants. Due to his sedentary lifestyle in the pre-trial detention center, Oleg tries to support himself with physical exercises and monitor his diet.

Judge of the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region Vasilina Bezotecheskikh leaves the petition for her recusal unsatisfied.

The defense draws attention to the fact that "the indictment does not contain an answer to the question of why Jehovah's Witnesses believers in Russia cannot belong to the world religious community of Jehovah's Witnesses ... If no one recognized this world community as extremist."

The court refuses to admit a public defender - the couple of the defendant, motivating this by the fact that she does not have a legal education and skills, although this is not a requirement of the law.

The lawyer asks that the defendant be next to him, and not in a cage, believing that isolation humiliates human dignity. The court refuses, referring to the current restriction measure.

During the announcement of the case materials, the defense draws attention to errors in the documents.

The prosecution announces the case materials, after which it files a motion for closed hearings to consider the expert studies and disks. The defense objects, reminding that the verdict has not yet been passed and the issue of extremism in the case file has not been resolved, therefore, in its opinion, closed hearings violate the principle of publicity and the presumption of innocence. Postnikov supports the position of the defense lawyer. He believes that this process will clarify whether the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is a crime or an exercise of a constitutional right.

The court grants the prosecution's motion. The process will continue behind closed doors.

There are so many listeners at the court hearing that all the seats are occupied, several people are standing. The guards give their chairs to those who do not have a seat.

The defendant makes his final statement.

Oleg Postnikov feels fine. He goes for a walk every other day and receives letters. The TV in the cell is constantly on, so it is difficult to reply to correspondence. The believer has a Bible.