The Supreme Court of Tatarstan Upholds the Sentence of Three Jehovah's Witnesses from Nizhnekamsk—Six Years Suspended

On December 8, 2023, the Judicial Collegium of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan upheld the verdict against Stanislav Klyuchnikov, Dmitriy Yarchak and Denis Filatov. The decision has entered into force, the convicted persons have the right to appeal against it in the court of cassation.

The believers drew attention to the fact that they were found guilty of extremism on the basis of the decision of the Supreme Court of April 20, 2017, but it did not imply a ban on a religious denomination with its inherent creeds, spiritual terminology, the order of worship and the dissemination of religious beliefs.

Speaking with the last word before the Court of Appeal, Dmitry Yarchak emphasized: "I am in the dock not for murder, not for theft, not for some dark deeds, but for the fact that I am a disciple of Jesus." Yarchak has been disabled since childhood, in his condition participation in investigative actions and the trial is not easy. However, he does not lose courage. "Of course, my physical and emotional health has been shaken, but my faith has become stronger," the man said in court.

Stanislav Klyuchnikov noted: "How can people who adhere to the rules or principles written in the Bible be dangerous to the state and society and be called 'extremists'?" He also drew the court's attention to the fact that his faith in Jehovah God helped him break with the antisocial group and become a useful member of society: "In fact, I was a danger to society before I became Jehovah's Witness in 1998."

The defendants are among 13 Jehovah's Witnesses from Tatarstan who have been prosecuted for their beliefs.