The Case of Shestopalova in Birobidzhan

FSB investigator, Captain of Justice Dmitry Yankin opens a criminal case against Yelena Shestopalova for participating in the activities of an extremist organization.

Olga Klyuchikova, judge of the Birobidzhan District Court, allows a search in the home of Yelena Shestopalova, 60, the mother of Vladlena Kukavitsa, who has been on trial for her faith for more than 1 year.

The catch case against Elena Shestopalova goes to the Birobidzhan District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Hearings in the case of Elena Shestopalova are beginning.

The prosecution proceeds to examine the written evidence. A significant part of the documents does not relate to the charges. Thus, materials for 2015 are read out (which goes beyond the incriminated period), as well as extensive documents related not to Yelena, but to Oleg Postnikov, including search protocols and lists of property seized from him. Positive references from Elena's place of work and a letter of thanks from the governor are announced.

During the speech of the state prosecutor, Shestopalova repeatedly asks for the floor and states that he is not telling the truth. Thus, the prosecutor claims that the seized hard drive contains a recording of a meetings for worship, but the case file indicates that this is not the case. The judge requires the prosecutor to find this information and voice reliable information.

During the court hearing, an audio recording of a meeting for worship is played, in which Bible teachings are discussed.

The hearing becomes public, and at the motion of the defendant, a woman who had previously been waiting in the corridor and could not be present due to the closed format of the proceedings is allowed into the courtroom. The prosecution invites two witnesses into the courtroom — Investigator Yankin, who was directly involved in investigating the case, and FSB officer Krupetskiy.

In her testimony, the defendant explained that they did not study banned literature at meetings for worship. According to her, those present simply recalled books that some of them had read 20 to 30 years ago. At that time, these publications were freely distributed in Russia and were added to the Federal List of Extremist Materials much later. No one quoted the content of the publications.

"Praising God and glorifying him is important for every religious person in any denomination. Jehovah's Witnesses glorify Jehovah God and pray to him. There is no extremism or propaganda of superiority in this," Yelena notes.

Prosecutor Leshundak insists on finding Yelena Shestopalova guilty and requests that the court impose a 4-year suspended sentence with 6 months of restrictions.