In the city of Primorye, the trial of a 72-year-old believer is drawing to a conclusion. Being disabled, she commutes to court hearings using her crutches

Lyudmila Shut from Razdolnoye village ( Primorye Territory) is being tried for her faith under the article on participation in the extremist organization's activities. Already on September 21, 2020 in Nadezhdinskoye district court, the state prosecutor is likely to request punishment for her, and after that the court will leave to the consulting room for sentencing.

The surveillance of the believers in Razdolnoye village began in the fall of 2017. The investigation was conducted by the Russian Investigative Committee for the Primorye Territory. Criminal cases were opened and the believers were charged with leading or participating in the activities of the banned organization. In February 2020 investigator Denis Shevchenko opened a criminal case against Lyudmila Shut based on suspicions of her participation in an extremist organization (part 2 of Article 282.2 of the RF Criminal Code).

In the prosecution's opinion, Lyudmila Shut, "acting deliberately... anticipating the coming of socially dangerous consequences... wishing to do so on the grounds of religious hatred, acting out of extremist motives... participated in.... meetings". The case was brought to court in April 2020. Judge Natalia Derevyagina listens to it. At least 7 court sessions on the merits took place.

Lyudmila Shut is old enough to be mother of most investigators. She is an invalid of group II, can not move around on her own, and even with the help of others needs crutches. All her guilt comes down to peaceful chanting, reading the Bible, praying and talking about God. Nevertheless, law enforcement officers seek for her severe punishment under part 2 of Article 282.2 of the RF Criminal Code (fine, forced labor or imprisonment for up to 6 years with loss of rights).

"It is alien to me as one of Jehovah's Witness to show hatred and enmity," Lyudmila said in court. "Jehovah's Witnesses around the world are known for their peacefulness, they don't take up arms... If all people as Jehovah's Witnesses refused to fight, there would be no wars, no terrorist acts and no extremism in the world."

Repression of Jehovah's Witnesses is particularly active in Primorye Territory, with about 30 people involved in various cases. Many of them are women and elderly people. The oldest of them is 86 years old.