The case of Safronova in Astrakhan

Nikolay Banko, an investigator for particularly important cases of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Astrakhan Region, initiates a criminal case against 55-year-old Anna Safronova under Part 2 of Article 282.2 and Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. She is suspected of financing extremist activities and participating in worship services together with other believers, the case against whom was initiated a year earlier.

According to investigators, the woman, "realizing her criminal intent," participated in online religious meetings held with the performance of songs and prayers to Jehovah God. The investigator also believes that the believer "controlled the receipt of funds in the form of donations from participants and parishioners of the congregation."

Anna Safronova is included in the list of extremists of Rosfinmonitoring, which means blocking all her bank accounts.

From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Anna Safronova and her 81-year-old mother are searched: the security forces even check the inspection hatches in the bathroom, as well as air ducts. A year ago, the woman was already searched with the seizure of all electronic devices. This time, electronic equipment is again seized from her, including a laptop that was recently returned after the first search.

Anna was taken to the building of the Investigative Committee and later placed in a temporary detention facility in the city of Astrakhan.

The prosecutor asks to send Anna Safronova under house arrest, citing "the severity of the suspicion that has arisen." Judge of the Kirovsky District Court of Astrakhan Fradilya Khairutdinova satisfies the prosecutor's request. Anna Safronova is forbidden to leave her place of residence, communicate with witnesses and other suspects, and use any means of communication. She is allowed daily walks from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The defense is requesting an adjournment of the hearing in order to fully familiarize itself with the case. Judge Aleksandr Lepsky partially satisfies the petition, giving only one instead of the four requested weeks.

The hearing in the case of Anna Safronova is underway. By agreement, the defender does not appear at the hearing due to illness. She notifies the court of her failure to appear in advance by e-mail. The judge shall provide the defendant with an appointed lawyer. Despite Anna Safronova's request to postpone the hearing, the court continues the hearing.

The prosecutor reads out the charge, after which the defendant expresses her attitude to the charge. Summing up, Anna Safronova tells the judge: "You, as a lawyer and as a person, will see the difference between Christian service to God, which I am determined to carry out all my life, and extremism, which is completely alien to me."

A witness is being questioned who says that she does not know the face of the defendant and that she has not previously met anyone present in the courtroom. The Witness notes: "I am generally grateful to Jehovah's Witnesses for introducing me to the Bible. They are very good people."

Another witness informs the court that good people gathered at the services of Jehovah's Witnesses, and that no one forced her to do anything.

The court rejects the challenges that the defendant makes to the judge, who repeatedly and grossly violates the right to defense and a fair trial, and to the lawyer appointed.

At the meeting, the case materials are read out. They contain information on examinations of equipment seized during searches belonging to the defendants in the case of Ivanov and others in Astrakhan and witnesses in this criminal case.

The prosecutor requests a punishment for the believer in the form of 6 years in a general regime colony.

Aleksandr Lepsky, judge of the Trusovsky District Court of the city of Astrakhan, convicts Anna Safronova: 6 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony.

It becomes known that Anna Safronova is in pre-trial detention center No. 2 in the Astrakhan region in the city of Narimanov.