In the photo: Valery Yakovlev, Vladimir Chesnokov, Vladimir Dutkin

In the photo: Valery Yakovlev, Vladimir Chesnokov, Vladimir Dutkin

In the photo: Valery Yakovlev, Vladimir Chesnokov, Vladimir Dutkin

Unjust Verdicts

The Court Rejected the Appeal of Three Cheboksary-Based Jehovah's Witnesses. They Have Been Fined for Practicing Their Beliefs

Chuvashia

On April 13, 2022, the Supreme Court of the Chuvash Republic approved fines against Vladimir Dutkin, Vladimir Chesnokov and Valeriy Yakovlev. Peaceful religious practice by Jehovah's Witnesses was equated by the court with extremist activity.

Earlier, the Kalininskiy District Court of Cheboksary sentenced believers to fines ranging from 400,000 to 500,000 rubles. The verdict has entered into force. The convicts consider it unfair and insist on their innocence. They have the right to file a cassation complaint, as well as apply to international institutions to defend their good name.

The court did not establish a single fact of extremist actions of the defendants. The examination of the case contains conclusions that the believers “called for honesty, restraint, and patience in relation to dissidents”; “in the submitted materials... there is a set of moral, ethical and behavioral norms, [...] which includes: chastity, honesty, restraint, respect for dissenting relatives.”

The defendant Vladimir Dutkin addressed the court with a rhetorical question: "If the Supreme Court did not ban the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, if the Government of the Russian Federation publicly declares that believers in Russia have the right to profess the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, then was I obliged to understand in any other way my religious rights enshrined in Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation?"

The case of Dutkin and Others in Cheboksary

Case History
In November 2020, insurance agent Vladimir Dutkin was searched. Two days earlier, FSB investigator Mukhin opened a criminal case against him under an extremist article, and they took a written undertaking not to leave the place. In June 2021, Valery Yakovlev and Vladimir Chesnokov became new defendants in the case. They were accused of meeting with fellow believers in rented premises, discussing religion and drinking tea. In July 2021, the case went to court. Independent examinations refuted the accusations and found that the believers “called for honesty, restraint, and patience in relation to dissidents.” Six months later, the prosecutor requested from 6 to 6.5 years in prison for believers. In February 2022, the judge sentenced the believers to a fine: Vladimir Dutkin — 500 thousand rubles, the rest — 400 thousand rubles each. In April 2022, this sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal. In August 2022, the Court of Cassation upheld the verdict and decision of the appellate instance.
Timeline

Persons in case

Chesnokov
Vladimir
Dutkin
Vladimir
Yakovlev
Valeriy

Criminal case

Region:
Chuvashia
Locality:
Cheboksary
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "realizing the illegality of their actions ... organized and conducted meetings (meetings) of the religious group of Jehovah's Witnesses in Cheboksary in specially rented premises, fenced with a solid high fence with a separate entrance, excluding any visual and voice contacts with unauthorized persons, under the guise of friendly meetings, tea parties, barbecue cooking
Court case number:
12007970001000045
Initiated:
November 25, 2020
Current case stage:
The verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Chuvash Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-2/2022 (1-347/2021)
Court of First Instance:
Калининский районный суд города Чебоксар Чувашской Республики
Judge:
Сергей Орлов
Case History