The Case of Gerasimov in Kazan

The investigator for especially important cases of the first department for the investigation of especially important cases of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia in the Republic of Tatarstan A. A. Giniyatullin makes a decision to initiate a criminal case against unidentified persons under parts 1 and 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, "in the actions of unidentified persons there are signs of crimes ... related to the implementation of extremist activities."

Investigator Giniyatullin prosecutes Alexei Gerasimov as a defendant in organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

The ruling states that Gerasimov, "being a follower and adherent" of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, continued to study the Bible together with fellow believers. According to the investigation, in the period from 2017 to 2022, Aleksey "involved individual residents of Kazan" in religious activities, and also "made decisions on the gathering of members and the search for accomplices in ideological propaganda", "gave lectures and showed videos promoting the ideas of the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses".

The investigator chooses Gerasimov a measure of restraint in the form of a written undertaking not to leave and proper behavior.

The case is submitted to the Kirovsky District Court of Kazan for consideration by Judge Anna Kryuchenkova.

16 people come to the courthouse, but only 9 are allowed into the courtroom - according to the number of seats.

Defendant Alexei Gerasimov reads out his attitude to the prosecution - he does not agree with the accusation.

At the end of the hearing, the prosecutor submits a motion that, instead of questioning prosecution witnesses in person, the judge will attach their written testimony to the case. The judge asks the defendant if he agrees. Gerasimov insists on calling witnesses for questioning.

Friends who came to court give Alexei Gerasimov's wife a bouquet of flowers.

The prosecution witness admits that this is the first time she has seen Gerasimov. When asked if she knows anything about the local legal entity (LRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses, she replies that she no longer remembers everything.

Another prosecution witness, an operational officer, refuses to answer the question about how he carried out operational-search activities, referring to the law on the inadmissibility of disclosure of information about the implementation of operational-search activities. He gives a subjective negative assessment of Jehovah's Witnesses. Gerasimov states that the witness is not an expert in matters of religion and has no right to give his assessment.

Another prosecution witness is being questioned. He says that he does not know Gerasimov and speaks positively of Jehovah's Witnesses. A secret witness under the pseudonym Ogorodnikov says that he does not know what an LRO is and has never been a member of the LRO.

A secret witness under the pseudonym Vasiltsov calls individual Bible studies in a café worship services, which is untrue and misleads the court.

In an hour and a half, 6 of the 11 volumes of the case were examined. The prosecutor reads out the subheadings, and only in two places draws the attention of the participants in the process to some details chosen by him.

Gerasimov once again asks the prosecutor to correctly put the emphasis on the name of God - Jehovah. The prosecutor ignores Gerasimov's requests and continues to distort the pronunciation of God's name. The defendant refers to Article 148 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which refers to actions "expressing obvious disrespect ... for the purpose of insulting the religious feelings of believers."

Listening to covert audio recordings of four worship meetings made by the embedded agent continues.

A secret witness under the pseudonym Kiselyova gives contradictory answers that are at odds with her written testimony.

The defense speaks about the basic beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, drawing attention to the topics of marriage and family, education, and health.

The testimony of a defense witness, a neighbor of the defendant, who gives a positive description of Gerasimov, is read out.

The judge agrees to review the video of the religious congress of Jehovah's Witnesses "Show Faith" and examine it for the presence of extremism.

The consideration of the case materials is coming to an end. The defendant is interrogated in the format of reading out his notes. Alexei Gerasimov refuses to answer questions from the court and the prosecutor.

The prosecutor requests 8 years of real imprisonment for the believer. The court grants Gerasimov's request to be given time to prepare his last word.

Referee: Anna Kryuchenkova. Kirovsky District Court of Kazan (Kazan, Shosseynaya str., 3). Time: 14:00.

"If I personally went against the power of the state, then, in fact, I would rebel against the power of Jehovah God himself, and for me this is unthinkable," the believer speaks with the last word.

Aleksey Gerasimov is in pre-trial detention center No. 2 in the Republic of Tatarstan. For the first two weeks, he is quarantined in solitary confinement.