The Case of Olshevskiy and Others in Blagoveshchensk

According to investigators, Yermilov, together with Olshevsky, "anticipating the onset of socially dangerous consequences ... took a direct part in religious events."

The judge of the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region, Oleg Filatov, issues search orders at three addresses: Sergey Afanasyev, Anton Olshevsky and Adam Svarichevsky.

Searches are being conducted in the homes of believers. As a result, Galina Svarichevskaya is experiencing severe stress. She was hospitalized for a month, then for a long time she was forced to take medication.

Investigator V. S. Obukhov makes a decision on the separation of materials into separate proceedings on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation from the materials of criminal case No. 11807100001000051 (against Alexei Berchuk and Dmitry Golik).

V. S. Obukhov, investigator of the FSB of Russia for the Amur Region, initiates a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against Anton Olshevsky and Sergey Ermilov. According to investigators, Yermilov, together with Olshevsky, "anticipating the onset of socially dangerous consequences, ... took a direct part in religious events."

Anton Olshevsky signed a recognizance not to leave.

Investigator Obukhov is prosecuting Sergey Yermilov as a defendant under Article 282.2 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. He signed a recognizance not to leave.

Investigator Obukhov is prosecuting Anton Olshevskiy as a defendant under Article 282.2 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. He signed a recognizance not to leave.

Sberbank is blocking Yermilov's accounts, citing the law on countering the "financing of terrorism."

Yermilov and Olshevsky submit petitions to the investigator to terminate the criminal case in connection with the opinion of the UN Working Group on the case of 18 believers in Russia.

The investigator refuses to satisfy the petitions of Yermilov and Olshevsky.

V. S. Obukhov, an investigator of the investigation department of the FSB of Russia for the Amur Region, charges 57-year-old local resident Adam Svarichevsky with committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to investigators, the accused, together with Olshevsky and Yermilov, took an active part in the religious activities of the banned organization. The believer does not admit guilt. With regard to Svarichevskiy, a preventive measure is chosen in the form of a written undertaking not to leave and proper behavior.

The Blagoveshchensk City Court authorizes a search in the home of Sergey Kardakov.

Investigator V. S. Obukhov is prosecuting 56-year-old Sergey Afanasyev as a defendant in committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. A peaceful believer, the father of a minor child, is accused of "anticipating the onset of socially dangerous consequences in the form of violation of rights and freedoms ... Person... depending on his religious affiliation... and wishing the onset of these socially dangerous consequences, acting from extremist motives,... He was directly involved in... religious events."

Afanasyev is chosen a measure of restraint in the form of a written undertaking not to leave and proper behavior.

Investigator Obukhov searches the apartment of 36-year-old Sergey Kardakov in the presence of witnesses: a soldier and two FSB operatives, Nikolai Korendov and Mikhail Panchuk. 2 mobile phones, a hard drive and a flash drive were seized from the believer and his wife. Obukhov issues a decision to bring Sergey Kardakov as a defendant in committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. (According to investigators, a peaceful believer, reading the Bible and praying to Jehovah, "undermines the foundations of the constitutional order and the security of the state ... acting out of extremist motives.") With regard to Sergey Kardakov, a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

Investigator V. S. Obukhov charges Olshevsky, Kardakov, Afanasyev and Yermilov under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of extremist organization activities). Sergey Afanasyev is also charged under Part 3 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (financing the activities of an extremist organization).

According to the investigation, Olshevsky "committed deliberate actions of an organizational nature. [...] I was looking for a place for religious events, renting a hall in a café ... and together with Sergey Kardakov ... and Alexei Berchuk held a religious meeting." In addition, the believer is charged with coordinating and carrying out preaching activities.

The case against 5 believers in Blagoveshchensk is submitted to the Blagoveshchensk City Court of the Amur Region.

The first court hearing is held. The judge rejects the request for an open hearing, as well as the defendants' request to refuse lawyers.

The prosecutor reads out the indictment.

The defendants speak with an attitude to the prosecution.

Sergey Afanasyev says that "all his life he encouraged his children and acquaintances to be decent people, to help their neighbors and respect authority: at school, at work, in the family, in the state."

Sergey Yermilov expresses bewilderment that he "is accused of absolutely legal actions on the territory of the Russian Federation to worship Jehovah God, the Father of Jesus Christ, the very God to whom Christians around the world and in Russia turn in the Our Father prayer."

Sergey Kardakov talks about how faith influenced him. He explains, "I've been studying the Bible since I was 10 years old. The advice and principles contained in it have helped me grow up to be an honest, conscientious, law-abiding citizen. I regularly pay taxes, earn a living by honest work, and my conscience does not allow me to appropriate other people's things. I respect the Constitution of the Russian Federation, our government, because according to the Bible, 'every person must obey the highest authorities, because all authority is from God.'"

Anton Olshevskiy, in his attitude to the charge, characterizes it as "unclear, vague, arbitrary and based on religious discrimination." He says: "For most of my life, I hold views that are incompatible with extremism. I am accused without facts and proof of my guilt, in fact, only because I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Adam Svarichevsky notes: "The preliminary investigation authorities did not pay attention to the fact that the right to have religious beliefs, as well as to share them with other people, is not a criminal offense."

The case materials are being examined.

One of the appointed lawyers speaks on behalf of all the lawyers that they have never seen such restrained, joyful and polite defendants.

The materials of the 19th volume of the case are being examined. Anton Olshevskiy's lawyer is changing.

The study of the written materials of the case, consisting of 38 volumes, is coming to an end. From the next hearing, the court proceeds to the interrogation of witnesses.

The court proceeds to examine the video recordings of worship services contained in the case file.

At the meeting, a recording of a Bible-based talk on how to prioritize and balance work is listened to. The court is also examining the recording of a friendly meeting in a café. The judge insists on a partial wiretapping - in her opinion, much is not relevant to the case.

The study of materials continues. The defense asks to announce the motion to terminate the case against Anton Olshevsky, Sergey Ermilov and Sergey Afanasyev, which was announced during the preliminary investigation.

The prosecutor is requesting punishment for five believers: Sergey Afanasiyev — 7 years and 6 months in a penal colony, Sergey Kardakov — 6 years and 10 months, Anton Olshevskiy and Sergey Yermilov — 6 years and 6 months each, Adam Svarichevskiy — 6 years and 4 months.

The speech of the defense in the debate begins. It will continue at the next meeting.

"The accusations are unfounded and have no noble goals, they are nothing more than discrimination against Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia," Anton Olshevskiy speaks before the court in the debate. After that, Sergey Yermilov and Sergey Afanasyev address the court with their last word.

"I have strived and will continue to strive to fulfill the command recorded in God's Word: 'Do not repay evil for evil to anyone,'" Yermilov said. Afanasyev notes: "The more than 100-year history of Jehovah's Witnesses has proved the non-extremist nature of the views of the followers of this religion."

The defendants Olshevsky, Svarichevsky and Kardakov, speaking with the last word, do not admit their guilt in extremism. They emphasize that they will not give up their Christian beliefs.

The court sentences believers to imprisonment in colonies for terms ranging from 6 years and 3 months to 6.5 years.

It becomes known that after the announcement of the guilty verdict, the believers were placed in pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Blagoveshchensk. They can write letters.

Lawyers visit five believers in the Blagoveshchensk pre-trial detention center, who were placed in custody after the conviction.

Sergey Yermilov does not complain about his health, the conditions of detention, according to him, are tolerable. The administration and prisoners treat the believer with respect. Sergey reports that "the letters are difficult", the Bible was taken away for verification, but he has a pocket format of the New Testament and Psalms. The believer says that it is still difficult for him to get used to the new realities of life. He longs for his son and wife, who is also accused under an extremist article. Sometimes on a walk, Sergey hears his co-religionist Adam Svarichevskiy, who is in the same pre-trial detention center, singing, and this supports his spirit.

Anton Olshevsky is kept in a clean cell. He is respected by others. The prisoners are surprised that he was imprisoned for believing in God. The believer has a disease - coxarthrosis at the initial stage, but he has not yet received the necessary medicines, since his health documents and prescription were lost in the pre-trial detention center. In his spare time, Olszewski draws pictures with pencils, which he took with him. He receives letters of support, they help him not to lose heart. The Bible is still being checked by the censor. Anton worries that he cannot be near his young son, and also worries about his wife, who is under criminal prosecution, and his father-in-law, who also received a sentence for his faith in this criminal case.

Adam Svarichevsky, Sergey Afanasyev and Sergey Kardakov are in a good emotional state, but they are worried about their wives. They do not complain about their health, they have the necessary medicines. Prisoners say that they have already been transferred from quarantine to ordinary cells. Svarichevsky has one cellmate. Afanasyev and Kardakov are held in cells, where there are 6 other people besides them. Relations with prisoners are normal. Svarichevsky has a Bible. Afanasyev and Kardakov say that when they were admitted to the pre-trial detention center, their books were taken away, so they wrote an application to the library of the pre-trial detention center with a request to give them Bibles. Prisoners receive letters of support from relatives and fellow believers.