In Oryol, Three Believers Were Sentenced to 6 Years in a Penal Colony for Discussing the Bible

On October 13, 2023, Natalya Tishkova, judge of the Sovetskiy District Court of the city of Oryol, sentenced Vladimir Piskarev, Vladimir Melnik and Artur Putintsev to 6 years in a penal colony and 1.5 years restriction of freedom after their release from prison.

The criminal prosecution of the believers began back in December 2020, when the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Oryol Region initiated a case under Article 282.2(2) of the RF CrC. On the following day, their homes were searched. After that, all three ended up behind bars. The believers spent more than 2 years and 9 months No.1 Detention Center Oryol Region. The investigation lasted just over 1 year. During this time, the number of the original charges was reduced to one – organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Since January 2022, the court has been considering the case.

"Neither I, nor Piskarev, nor Putintsev have ever carried out extremist activity," said Vladimir Melnik, in his final statement: "We practiced the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, including meeting and discussing our beliefs with fellow believers." The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed in the courts of appeal and cassation.

Vladimir Piskarev has already suffered two hypertensive crises and a stroke in the pretrial detention center, was in the regional hospital for more than a week under guard due to an acute attack of cholecystitis. Doctors also diagnosed him with coronary artery disease. Despite this, the court repeatedly extended his detention. As Vladimir's wife, Tatyana, said, prayer, the help of friends, as well as "the example of fellow believers when they were exiled to Siberia" for their faith, help them to survive adversity with dignity.

Artur Putintsev, while in detention, faced a serious shock – his 32-year-old younger brother died. In addition, Artur was not given the necessary medications, and also was not provided with dental treatment. Artur's wife, Lyudmila, says: "Artur tries to talk about positive things in his letters and sees the care of our [heavenly] Father. He becomes more and more courageous and maintains his joy. Reading the Bible also gives him a lot of support."

Since 2009, in the Oryol Region there have been cases of pressure, threats, and provocations by the FSB against local Jehovah's Witnesses. Over the past 6 years, five criminal cases have been initiated in the region, including against Danish citizen Dennis Christensen.