Case of Suvorova in Chelyabinsk

Case History

A criminal case against 73-year-old Valentina Suvorova, a labor veteran, former choir teacher and conductor, was opened by the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Chelyabinsk Region on March 18, 2019. A few days later, the believer was searched, and 10 months later, a case was opened against her husband [Vladimir] (/en/prisoners/suvorovv.html). The security forces introduced an informant into the Suvorovs’ entourage - a woman who feigned interest in the Bible. In addition to the betrayal of this man, the couple had to go through a lot in their lives, including the death of their 42-year-old only son. The criminal prosecution caused the believer, according to her, an incurable emotional trauma. Other diseases have worsened. For more than a year, Valentina was under recognizance not to leave. Since February 18, 2020, she has defended her good name in the Metallurgicheskiy District Court, where, for health reasons, she testified while sitting. On March 11, 2021, Judge Grigory Yarygin sentenced her to 2 years probation with restriction of liberty for 6 months with a probation period of 1 year.
Timeline

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    March 26, 2019 Search

    In Chelyabinsk and Yemanzhelinsk, mass searches are carried out in the homes of believers.

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    December 5, 2019

    The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk Region charges 71-year-old Valentina Suvorova with continuing the activities of an extremist organization (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) only because the woman exercised the right to freedom of religion. They took a written undertaking not to leave the place.

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    December 25, 2019
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    February 7, 2020

    Suvorova's case is transferred to the Metallurgicheskiy District Court of Chelyabinsk. The judge finds no grounds for a preliminary hearing.

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    March 3, 2020 Hearing in a court of the first instance

    About 40 people come to support Valentina (20 are allowed into the hall). The prosecutor reads out the charges. Judge Grigory Yarygin does not invite Valentina to express her attitude to the charges, which is provided for by law. He gives permission to do so only after the lawyer draws attention to the need to comply with this provision. Valentina reads out her attitude to the charges. Prosecution witnesses are scheduled to be questioned at the next hearing.

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    February 11, 2021

    At the hearing, the prosecutor reads out the testimony of prosecution witnesses. The witnesses themselves are not present in court, and their whereabouts are unknown.

    Valentina Suvorova speaks with her attitude to the accusation. The judge allows her to read out the testimony while sitting, due to her age and poor health. The defendant draws attention to the fact that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation did not ban the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, which means that any person living in Russia has the right to practice the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses after April 20, 2017 . And this is not a crime.

    The defendant shows the court the absurdity of what is happening: "The preliminary investigation bodies incorrectly and arbitrarily interpret the decision of the Supreme Court. And it is their misinterpretation, and not the alleged crime I committed, that is the reason why I am in the dock today."

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    March 10, 2021 Prosecutor requested punishment

    The trial of Valentina Suvorova is entering its final stage - debate. The prosecutor requests a sentence of 3 years in a general regime colony for the elderly believer, calling her guilty of extremism.

    "In the period from September 6, 2017, the exact date and time have not been established, in an unidentified place on the territory of Chelyabinsk, at Suvorova V.A. ... there was a criminal intent to commit unlawful acts to participate in the continuation of the activities of the LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses "Chelyabinsk", in respect of which the court decided to liquidate," the indictment says. According to the prosecutor, Valentina Suvorova "committed a deliberate crime against the foundations of the constitutional order and state security" by talking to the townspeople about the Bible-based beliefs held by Jehovah's Witnesses. The course of the trial did not establish any other crime.

    The believer makes the last word, does not admit guilt and asks her to be acquitted. "I have never had anything to do with extremists and extremism. And forbidding believing is like forbidding breathing. Unthinkable and impossible!" says Valentina Suvorova, addressing the court.

    The court schedules the announcement of the verdict at 16:00 on March 11.

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    March 11, 2021 First Instance Sentence

    The Metallurgichesky District Court of Chelyabinsk found Valentina Suvorova guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist organization and sentenced her to 2 years of suspended sentence with restriction of liberty for a term of 6 months with a probationary period of 1 year.

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    March 12, 2021