Case of Reznichenko in Zeya

V. S. Obukhov, investigator of the Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Amur Region, initiates a criminal case for his faith under Article 282.2 (2) against 76-year-old Vasily Reznichenko.

Searches are being conducted in the homes of Reznichenko and several other believers. Laptops, phones, personal records were seized.

Investigator V. Obukhov sends a request for a medical examination of Vasily Reznichenko to the Zeya Hospital in order to identify "the presence (absence) of diseases that prevent the serving of a sentence of imprisonment."

Vasiliy Reznichenko is included in the list of extremists of Rosfinmonitoring. The authorities are blocking his accounts and restricting his financial opportunities.

An outpatient psychological and psychiatric examination is carried out.

Vasily Reznichenko was indicted.

The case is referred for consideration on the merits to the Zeysky District Court of the Amur Region.

From the interrogation protocols, the judge reads out the testimony of witnesses who did not appear, including an FSB officer. However, counsel draws attention to the fact that the defendant is not mentioned in these protocols. The judge reads out the transcripts of the worship meetings made by a hidden camera. Vasiliy Reznichenko expresses his attitude to the accusation.

Three prosecution witnesses are being questioned. To each of them, the judge, among other things, asks the question: "You did not quarrel with him [the defendant], did not swear, do not experience hostile relations?" All three answer in the negative.

The judge reads out the testimonies of witnesses who did not appear from the interrogation protocols.

From the transcripts of the liturgical meetings held in 2018, Judge Oksana Brylyova reads out the defendant's words: two prayers and several comments.

Also, the judge announces a religious study carried out by specialist Olga Averina.

Prosecution witnesses do not appear at the hearing. In this regard, the judge reads out the protocols of their interrogations made during the preliminary investigation, as well as the protocols of searches and examinations of material evidence from the defendant and witnesses in the case. The judge also reads out transcripts of wiretapping witnesses in the case.

The last, 9th volume of the materials of the criminal case is read out: characteristics and thanks from the place of work of Vasily Reznichenko, a veteran of labor of the USSR, a characteristic from the district police officer and the conclusion of the medical commission on various chronic diseases.

The prosecutor asks the court to find 78-year-old Vasily Reznichenko guilty of participating in extremist activities and to sentence the elderly believer to 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of 8 months, taking into account his advanced age and state of health. The defense asks to fully acquit Reznichenko for lack of corpus delicti.

Vasily Reznichenko speaks in the debate of the parties. He notes: "The lawful conduct of a person who professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses has been wrongly interpreted as a criminal offense." Meetings with fellow believers to worship God "do not mean the continuation or resumption of the illegal activities of the liquidated organization."

Judge of the Zeysky District Court of the Amur Region Oksana Brylyova sentences 78-year-old Vasily Reznichenko and finds him guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist association. The believer was sentenced to 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 8 months.

The Amur Regional Court upheld the verdict. The Amur Regional Court upheld the verdict.