Court Imposes on Seven Believers from Pechora Fines Ranging from 200 to 600 thousand Rubles. One Of Convicted Died Two Years Prior to This Decision

On December 17, 2024, Judge Aleksandr Korovenko of the Pechora City Court of the Komi Republic fined seven Jehovah's Witnesses, finding them guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, participating in it, and financing it.

Considering the time spent under arrest, Gennadiy Polyakevich must pay 200 thousand rubles, and Gennadiy Skutelets — 250 thousand rubles. The court imposed fines of 600 thousand rubles on Nikolai Anufriev, Eduard Merinkov, Viktor Shchannikov, and Alexander Vorontsov. The verdict has not yet come into force and can be appealed.

Aleksandr Prilepskiy, who died at the age of 58 from the consequences of COVID-19 during the hearings, was also found guilty by the court, but the criminal prosecution was terminated due to his death. Thus, this is the third case where one ofJehovah's Witness has been posthumously found guilty of extremism. Prilepskiy's lawyer, speaking in the debates, said: "Although my client is no longer with us, there are people who are ready to continue the fight, as my client did not admit his guilt." Alexander's wife and daughter insist on his innocence.

The Investigative Committee of the Komi Republic initiated a criminal case against the believers in January 2020. At that time, searches were conducted in the homes of 12 Jehovah's Witnesses by law enforcement officers. Polyakevich was sent to a pre-trial detention center, where he spent about 10 months. Skutelets spent a year under house arrest. Other believers were placed under travel restrictions. About 1.5 years later, the case went to court, but after eight months it was sent back for further investigation. In April 2023, the court hearings resumed — essentially starting the process over with a new court composition. The prosecutor requested real imprisonment for the believers, ranging from fiveto seven years.

Expressing his disagreement with the accusation, Viktor Shchannikov said: "During the court sessions, not a single action or even statement inciting hatred or enmity was identified."

The support of friends and fellow believers helped the defendants cope with the hardships of criminal prosecution — they provided material assistance, attended hearings in any weather, gave postcards, food, and wrote encouraging letters. Gennady Polyakevich, in his final statement, said that he received more than 5,500 letters while in the pre-trial detention center.

Another case against five believers is being considered in the Komi Republic court. One of them, Sergey Ushakhin, a group II disabled person, died during the court hearings due to a sharp deterioration in health.