The Case of Filiznov and Others in Yaroslavl

In Yaroslavl and neighboring Rybinsk, FSB and National Guard officers are conducting searches in at least 13 homes of believers. Several believers were detained and sent to an isolation ward.

The official website of the Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Yaroslavl Region states that the believers were suspected of holding liturgical meetings "including through the Internet, within which [they] promoted prohibited teachings."

This is the first case of criminal prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Yaroslavl region since the decision of the Supreme Court of Russia to liquidate legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

The court decides to send 4 believers to pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Yaroslavl until at least June 11, 2021. These are the 45-year-old father of a young child Andrey Vyushin, 55-year-old Pyotr Filiznov, as well as the Kuznetsov spouses - 38-year-old Alexander and 33-year-old Maria.

The Dzerzhinsky District Court of Yaroslavl decides to extend the detention of 4 believers.

During the appeal hearing on the complaint about the extension of the detention of 4 believers, the judge of the Yaroslavl Regional Court Irina Ignatieva releases from custody Andrey Vyushin, Petr Filiznov, Alexander and Maria Kuznetsov and chooses for them a measure of restraint in the form of a ban on certain actions.

In Yaroslavl, an employee of the Federal Penitentiary Service comes to Andrey Vyushin's apartment and puts a tracking bracelet on the believer's leg, and also installs a stationary monitoring device in the apartment. At the same time, the measure of restraint chosen for Vyushin does not imply a ban on leaving the home or being in certain places.

The appointed lawyer finds out that the authorities of the Federal Penitentiary Service decided to use all available control devices, and Vyushin accidentally got into the list of those to whom these devices were installed.

The believer intends to appeal against the actions of law enforcement officers.

The case of four believers is submitted to the Dzerzhinsky District Court of Yaroslavl. It will be considered by judge Irina Vlasova.

To support the accused, 10-12 people come to the hearing, including one elderly woman.

At the hearing, the issue of the release of defense counsel by appointment in connection with the entry into the case of defense counsel by agreement is discussed.

The defense file a motion to familiarize itself with the case materials.

The defense filed a motion to terminate the criminal case, to provide a larger hall for the access of listeners and to change the measure of restraint to a written undertaking not to leave or to change the restrictions.

About 20 people come to the meeting, but only 9 of them are allowed to attend as listeners.

After the prosecutor presents the charges, all four defendants express their attitude towards him.

Before the start of the meeting, Filiznov's glasses break, but despite this, he reads out everything that he has planned. The prosecutor and the judge listen very attentively to his statement. In their speeches, the defendants talk about the peace-loving biblical principles that they follow and draw attention to the absurdity of the accusations.

About 30 people come to the first meeting. Although a spacious hall is provided, only 7 listeners are allowed.

The court session begins with the study of material evidence - audio recordings of worship. Two recordings are fully listened to.

The court grants the motion to postpone the hearing for the medical examination of Alexander Kuznetsov.

After 10 days of treatment, Alexander Kuznetsov does not get better, so judge Irina Vlasova postpones the hearing.

The prosecutor asks for severe punishment for the believers: Pyotr Filiznov and Andrey Vyushin — 8 years in a penal colony, and the Kuznetsov spouses — 4 years of real imprisonment in a penal colony. In addition, he demands to deprive them of the right to engage in activities related to leadership and participation in the work of public and religious organizations (Filiznov and Vyushin for 5 years, and Kuznetsov - for 3 years), as well as additional restriction of freedom for Filiznov and Vyushin for 1.5 years, and for Kuznetsov - for 6 months.

The defendants make their final statements.