Vladimir Baykalov with his wife on the day of the appeal hearing, Kemerovo, 2024

Vladimir Baykalov with his wife on the day of the appeal hearing, Kemerovo, 2024

Vladimir Baykalov with his wife on the day of the appeal hearing, Kemerovo, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Kemerovo Upheld Suspended Sentence Against 60-year-old Vladimir Baykalov for his Faith

Kemerovo Region

On February 21, 2024, Vladimir Baykalov's sentence — 6 years suspended for talking about the Bible — entered into force by the decision of Natalya Vorobyeva, judge of the Kemerovo Regional Court. The believer still insists he is innocent of extremism.

During the trial, Vladimir Baykalov stated: "It became obvious that I was convicted not for any extremist actions or statements, but for my peaceful religious beliefs, for faith not prohibited by law, which I express by praying to God, reading, studying and applying the Holy Scriptures in my life for the benefit of people and society." In his appeal, Baykalov pointed out that reading sacred texts, participating in joint meetings for worship and the life of the community are ways of expressing faith and cannot be considered a crime in themselves.

In the Kemerovo Region, 18 of Jehovah's Witnesses have already faced prosecution for their faith.

The Case of Baykalov in Kemerovo

Case History
In February 2022, a criminal case was initiated against Vladimir Baykalov from Kemerovo simply because he is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The next day, the Investigative Committee authorized a search of the believer’s home. He was accused of organizing the activity of an extremist organization. According to the investigation, Baykalov’s extremist actions consisted of communicating on Bible topics via video conferencing. In November 2022, the case went to court. The prosecutor requested 7 years in a penal colony for the believer, but in November 2023 the judge gave him a 6-year suspended sentence. Four months later, the court of appeal upheld this verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Baykalov
Vladimir

Criminal case

Region:
Kemerovo Region
Locality:
Kemerovo
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he conducted conversations through video conferencing with an indefinite circle of people, "during which he promoted the activities of an extremist organization."
Court case number:
12202320003000010
Initiated:
February 2, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
SO in the Zavodskoy district of Kemerovo of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the Kemerovo region - Kuzbass
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-82/2023 (1-982/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Заводский районный суд г. Кемерово
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Марина Романина
Case History