Photo: Maria Troshina, Natalia Sorokina

Photo: Maria Troshina, Natalia Sorokina

Photo: Maria Troshina, Natalia Sorokina

Criminal Investigation and Trial

In Smolensk, after 191 days of imprisonment, 2 women believers are released from prison

Smolensk Region

On April 15, 2019, the Leninsky District Court of Smolensk transferred Natalia Sorokina and Maria Troshina to house arrest. Women from the small town of Sychevka (Smolensk region) were released in the courtroom after spending more than six months behind bars.

On October 7, 2018, innocent law-abiding women, a nurse and a tour guide, were arrested by FSB officers for 48 hours. Later, on 9 October, 19 November and 19 February, the court extended their detention.

Law enforcers mistakenly mistake citizens' religion for participation in the activities of an extremist organization. Prominent public figures of Russia, the Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation, the President of the Russian Federation, as well as international organizations - the European Union External Action Service, observers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - drew attention to this problem. Jehovah's Witnesses have nothing to do with extremism and insist on their complete innocence. The Russian government has repeatedly stated that the decisions of the Russian courts on the liquidation and prohibition of organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses "do not assess the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, do not contain a restriction or prohibition to practice the above teachings individually."

Case of Sorokina and Troshina in Sychevka

Case History
Sychevka is a city of compact residence of followers of the Old Believers. Nurse Natalia Sorokina and tour guide Maria Troshina spent more than six months in jail because they believe in Jehovah God and try to live according to the biblical commandments. In 2018, the FSB accused them of “religious hatred” and of “organizing the activities of a banned organization.” At the same time, law enforcement officers cynically mentioned that “the state guarantees the equality of human and civil rights and freedoms, regardless of their attitude to religion.” Natalia’s health deteriorated during the period of her stay in the pre-trial detention center. On April 22, 2021, Arkady Likhachev, judge of the Sychevsky District Court of the Smolensk Region, sentenced the believers to 6 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 3 years. In September 2021, the appellate court upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Sorokina
Nataliya
Troshina
Mariya

Criminal case

Region:
Smolensk Region
Locality:
Sychevka
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others they conducted religious services, which is interpreted as “organising the activity of an extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11807660001000033
Initiated:
October 7, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Smolensk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-2/2021 (1-13/2020; 1-100/2019)
Court:
Sychevskiy District Court, Smolensk Region
Judge:
Arkadiy Likhachev
Case History
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