The Case of Yevtushenko in Krasnodar

Senior FSB investigator Nikita Rudenko opens a criminal case against Anatoly Yevtushenko for participating in the activities of an extremist organization.

The believer is taken to the investigative department of the FSB, where he is acquainted with the decision to initiate a criminal case, after which the investigator releases him on his own recognizance.

Investigator Nikita Rudenko charges Anatoliy Yevtushenko with extremism for the fact that he "participated in holding collective religious events — worship services consisting of sequentially performed actions: singing songs related to the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, praying to Jehovah God, studying the provisions of the book 'Holy Scripture / New World Translation' (Bible)."

Anatoly Yevtushenko is included in the List of Terrorists and Extremists of Rosfinmonitoring.

Anatoly Yevtushenko's case goes to the Sovetsky District Court of Krasnodar and is assigned to judge Kirill Motorny.

Anatoly Yevtushenko asks the court to allow him to go to St. Petersburg for hip replacement surgery. The judge rejects the petition, citing the need to obtain confirmation from the clinic. However, the court allows the believer to travel 100 km from Krasnodar to take care of his elderly bedridden mother.

23 people come to the courthouse, but 12 are allowed to enter. State prosecutor A. Y. Melnik reads out the charges.

The court allows the accused to go to another city for postoperative rehabilitation.

The court is examining evidence in the case, including minutes of meetings of the LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses in Krasnodar. The defense notes that Yevtushenko is not mentioned there even once, and draws attention to the difference between LRO meetings and meetings for worship.

Anatoly's mother is dying. Despite the criminal prosecution and his own health problems, the believer cared for her until his death.

The prosecutor asks the court to appoint Yevtushenko three years in a general regime colony. The court appoints two.

Before that, Anatoly Yevtushenko makes his final statement and notes: "Prison walls are not an obstacle for the spirit of God, with which he supports those who are faithful to him."

More than 70 people come to court to support the defendant. After the verdict was announced, he was taken into custody and taken away in handcuffs.