Yuriy Kolotinskiy, Mikhail Reshetnikov and Anatoliy Sarychev near Altai Territorial Court. July 19, 2024

Yuriy Kolotinskiy, Mikhail Reshetnikov and Anatoliy Sarychev near Altai Territorial Court. July 19, 2024

Yuriy Kolotinskiy, Mikhail Reshetnikov and Anatoliy Sarychev near Altai Territorial Court. July 19, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal Upheld Suspended Sentences for Three Elderly Residents of Barnaul for Talking About Jehovah

Altai Territory

The verdict against Mikhail Reshetnikov, 75, veteran of labor, Yuriy Kolotinskiy, 69, disabled and Anatoliy Sarychev, 74, entered into force with minor changes – the corresponding decision was issued by the Altai Territorial Court on July 19, 2024. Each of the believers received a 2-year and 3-month suspended sentence.

Kolotinskiy, Reshetnikov and Sarychev received suspended sentences for charges of participating in the activity of an extremist organization because they participated in peaceful religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses. The court of appeal amended the part of the verdict regarding the restriction of freedom: the believers are forbidden to visit places of mass events and participate in them without the consent of supervisory bodies, while the ban on participating in other events was excluded from the verdict. The territorial court also ruled that some personal belongings of the believers, which the law enforcement officers seized as material evidence, should not be destroyed.

Yuriy Kolotinskiy on the day of the appeal hearing
Yuriy Kolotinskiy on the day of the appeal hearing

In the appeal, the Barnaul residents pointed out: "All the charges [of extremism] do not correspond to reality, as evidenced by the facts from the criminal case, from the expert studies, as well as from the words of witnesses interrogated in court; [...] wholly legitimate conduct aimed solely at expressing one's faith in ways characteristic of Jehovah's Witnesses around the world was wrongly regarded by the court as illegal actions."

According to the believers, the criminal prosecution exacerbated the difficulties already caused by old age and failing health. However, all three are grateful for the support from family and friends. "They pray for us, come to court, stand and wait for us in the cold on the street and meet and see us off with applause. This touches my heart," said Anatoliy Sarychev earlier.

In total, 9 of Jehovah's Witnesses are being prosecuted on similar charges in the Altai Territory, two of them are serving sentences in a penal colony.

The Case of Reshetnikov and Others in Barnaul

Case History
Mikhail Reshetnikov, pensioner and veteran of labor became one of the victims of the police special operation “Armageddon”, which took place in May 2021 in Barnaul and surrounding cities. The law enforcement officers searched the believer’s apartment, seizing greeting cards from his wedding, electronic devices and personal notes. After the search, the investigator interrogated him in the FSB building and placed him under a recognizance agreement. Two days earlier, a criminal case was initiated against the believer for participating in the activity of an extremist organization. Later, in October 2022, the investigation initiated a criminal case under the same article against pensioner Anatoliy Sarychev and veteran of labor Yuriy Kolotinskiy. They also were placed under a recognizance agreement. In December 2022, the criminal case went to court. A secret witness testified against the believers. In May 2024, the court handed down a 2-year and 3-month suspended sentence, and in July, the court of appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Kolotinskiy
Yuriy
Reshetnikov
Mikhail
Sarychev
Anatoliy

Criminal case

Region:
Altai Territory
Locality:
Barnaul
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "carried out activities to support the existence of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses Barnaul, including through conversations ... as well as direct participation in events held by representatives of this organization.
Court case number:
12107010001000020
Initiated:
May 25, 2021
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia in the Altai Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-3/2024 (1-68/2023; 1-826/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Leninskiy District Court of the City of Barnaul of the Altai Territory
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Lyubov Kurushina
Case History
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