In Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, an 81-Year-Old Woman and Fellow Believers Sentenced to Suspended Terms for Discussing the Bible

On July 30, 2024, the Nikolayevsk-on-Amur City Court found Igor Kletkin, Nikolay Kononenko, Vladislav Markov, and Nadezhda Korobochko guilty of extremism for reading the Bible together. Judge Roman Zhukov gave the believers suspended sentences. The decision has not entered into force.

Igor Kletkin and Nikolay Kononenko received a 6-year suspended sentence with a period of probation of 4 years, Nadezhda Korobochko — 5 years and 3 years of probation. The court made the case of Vladislav Markov into a separate proceeding.

"The charge against me is based on an erroneous interpretation and application of the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated April 20, 2017 and on erroneous expert study conclusions," Nikolay Kononenko said at one of the court hearings.

The case of 81-year-old Nadezhda Korobochko is based on an audio recording of just one meeting for worship, at which she spoke briefly on spiritual topics. The elderly believer noted: "The prosecution was interested only in the formal aspect — that the believers gathered to discuss teachings. However, neither the investigator nor the prosecutor even tried to get to the bottom of what these meetings were about. If they had, they would have understood that I had not committed any unlawful actions."

She related what she had to go through during the criminal prosecution: "The search was the most difficult for me, because at that time I was sick, I had high blood pressure — a hypertensive crisis." The recognizance agreement also created additional difficulties for Nadezhda, since she could not go to the regional hospital in Khabarovsk to have a pacemaker fitted.

The four believers noted that relatives, friends and fellow believers help them maintain a positive attitude by sending them cards and loving messages. Despite the verdict, the believers do not lose heart. "I am greatly strengthened by the example of our brothers and sisters. Everyone has a positive impact on me," said Igor Kletkin.