Unjust Verdicts

An Appeal in Abakan Upheld Suspended Sentences for Two Believers—Two-and-a-Half Years Each for Holding Bible Discussions

Khakassia

On June 16, 2022, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Khakassia approved the verdict against Aleksandr Vergunov and Matrena Spiriadi. The Judicial Collegium, chaired by Judge Yelena Dyukareva, considered attending services and discussing the Bible a criminal offense.

In the court of first instance, it turned out that most of the 42 witnesses either did not know the defendants or were confused in their testimony. Despite this, the prosecutor asked to sentence the believers to 5 years in prison. The court limited itself to a suspended sentence: 2.5 years each.

The verdict has entered into force. Believers still insist on their innocence. They have the right to appeal the verdict in cassation.

The third suspect in the case was 44-year-old Irina Sidorova, who died in hospital in July 2020 after two surgeries. Her minor child was left without a mother.

The case of the Abakan believers was separated from the case of Roman Baranovskiy and his mother Valentina . The 70-year-old believer was released on parole. Her son is still in prison for his faith in God.

A recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights once again confirmed the incompetence of the criminal prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia.

The case of Vergunov and Others in Abakan

Case History
Several criminal cases were singled out from the high-profile case of the Baranovskiys , a mother and son. One of them was opened by the Abakan Investigation Department on April 20, 2020 against Aleksandr Vergunov, Matryona Spiriadi and Irina Sidorova (she died three months later). At that time, Vergunov was doing alternative civilian service at a medical center, and Spiriadi was the guardian of his disabled grandson. After more than a year of investigation, the case was submitted to the Abakan City Court of the Republic of Khakassia. It was considered by Judge Yuriy Lotsky. On April 4, 2022, the court sentenced the believers to 2.5 years of probation. The appeal upheld the verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Sidorova
Irina
Spiriadi
Matrena
Vergunov
Aleksandr

Criminal case

Region:
Khakassia
Locality:
Abakan
Suspected of:
"as followers of the religious teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses," attended worship services and discussed the Bible
Court case number:
12002950002000052
Initiated:
April 20, 2020
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department for the city of Abakan of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Krasnyarskiy Territory and the Republic of Khakassia
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-30/2022 (1-719/2021)
Court:
Abakan City Court of the Republic of Khakassia
Judge:
Yuriy Lotskiy
Case History
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