Jehovah's Witnesses from Taganrog Sentenced to Real and Suspended Terms, One of Them — Again

On June 20, 2023, Georgy Serebryanikov, judge of the Taganrog City Court, sentenced Aleksandr Skvortsov, formerly one of the defendants in the "Case of 16", to 7 years in a penal colony for his faith. Another Jehovah's Witness, Valery Tibiy, received a 6-year suspended sentence and was released in the courtroom. The court also sentenced Vladimir Moiseenko to 6 years in prison.

This is the second time Aleksandr Skvortsov has become a prisoner of conscience because of his religious beliefs. Back in August 2011, the believer faced criminal prosecution on charges of extremism and his house was searched. As a result, in November 2015, Skvortsov was given a 5.5-year suspended sentence. At that time, 15 other believers received suspended sentences and fines; they were convicted for not stopping to meet for worship after the local legal entity had been banned.

The security forces again ransacked the house of Aleksandr and his wife, Larisa, in March 2021, just 3 months after his suspended sentence had expired. On the eve of the invasion, the believer found tapping equipment in his home. In December of the same year, the homes of Skvortsov, Tibiy and about 30 other people were searched. Aleksandr was sent to a detention center, where he remained until the verdict was passed. His wife was only allowed to visit him a year after his detention began, and they just had 10 minutes. By that time, the believer had been transferred from cell to cell more than 13 times.

Valeriy Tibiy became a defendant in the criminal case in March 2022. Two months later, he was placed in the same pre-trial detention center where Skvortsov was kept. The court ruled to arrest Valeriy without taking into account his condition: the believer needed daily medication, because shortly before the search he had undergone heart surgery and had drawn up documents confirming his disability. He was held in custody until the verdict was passed. The prosecutor requested a long term for the believer — 6.5 years in prison.

In November 2022, the case went to court. During the criminal prosecution of the believers, they themselves, as well as their wives, were supported by fellow believers. Larisa Skvortsova said: "[Friends] come to court in any weather, give me a ride in a car to take the parcel." According to her, Alexander, despite his difficult circumstances, finds a way to support her emotionally. Also, all four are strengthened by letters from Jehovah's Witnesses from different countries.

Aleksandr Skvortsov has already been convicted in the case of the local religious organization "Taganrog", in respect of which the ECHR overturned the conviction and ruled that compensation be paid to the affected believers. The Russian authorities not only do not comply with this decision, but subject believers to prosecution again.