Vitaliy Sukhov with his wife after the appeal hearing (March 2022)

Vitaliy Sukhov with his wife after the appeal hearing (March 2022)

Vitaliy Sukhov with his wife after the appeal hearing (March 2022)

Unjust Verdicts

An Appeal in Krasnoyarsk Left Unchanged Vitaliy Sukhov's Six-Year Suspended Sentence for Belief in Jehovah God

Krasnoyarsk Territory

On March 1, 2022, Krasnoyarsk Territory court rejected the appeal of Vitaliy Sukhov, father of many children and confirmed the conviction — suspended sentence for "organization of religious speeches and worship".

In spring 2020, Sukhov's house was searched only because of his religion, his car was arrested, and he has been seeking justice in courts for almost 2 years. The testimony of the secret witness "Kuzmin," as well as other prosecution witnesses, could not confirm Sukhov's criminal intent. The criminal prosecution of the 55-year-old believer jeopardized his ability to care for his wife and 8 children, three of whom are minors. On December 21, 2021, Judge of the Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Krasnoyarsk Svetlana Patsalyuk sentenced Vitaliy Sukhov to 6 years of suspended imprisonment.

The verdict came into force. The believer still insists on his innocence and can appeal the verdict on cassational basis.

The Krasnoyarsk region has already charged 25 Jehovah's Witnesses with crimes against society and the state, even though they have not committed anything unlawful. In addition to Vitaliy Sukhov, four other believers have already been convicted for their faith.

According to a clarification by the Plenum of the Supreme Court of Russia, religious meetings and conversations about the Bible cannot be considered extremism by itself. On 9 February, 2022, Chairman of the Supreme Court Vyacheslav Lebedev further emphasized this idea: "Actions that do not contain signs of extremism and consist solely of the exercise of the right to freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, including through the performance of religious rites and ceremonies, do not constitute a crime."

Sukhov's case in Krasnoyarsk

Case History
In May 2020, representatives of law enforcement agencies came to the father of many children, Vitaly Sukhov, and several of his fellow believers with a search. The investigation accused Sukhov of allegedly “organizing religious performances and services.” The believer himself said: “I have never been a member of any extremist organizations. I am a peaceful person, I have a big family.” In October 2020, the court seized the believer’s car, depriving him of the right to dispose of his property. Although the indictment did not indicate specific facts confirming the commission of a crime by Sukhov, in March 2021 the case was submitted to the Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Krasnoyarsk. Such facts were also not established in court, and even the prosecution witnesses who testified could not confirm the illegality of the believer’s actions. On December 21, 2021, Judge Svetlana Patsalyuk sentenced Vitaliy Sukhov to 6 years of suspended imprisonment. In March 2022, the Court of Appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Sukhov
Vitaliy

Criminal case

Region:
Krasnoyarsk Territory
Locality:
Krasnoyarsk
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he "organized religious performances and services, as well as propaganda of the activities of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses 'Krasnoyarsk'"
Court case number:
12002040002000028
Initiated:
May 8, 2020
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russian Federation for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-209/2021
Court:
Zheleznodorozhniy District Court of the City of Krasnoyarsk
Judge:
Svetlana Patsalyuk
Case History
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