The case of Kupriyanskiy and others in Kursk

M. N. Zaitsev, Senior Investigator for Internal Affairs of the Investigative Directorate of the FSB of Russia for the Kursk Region, issues a decision to initiate a criminal case against Nikolai Kupriyansky under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as well as spouses Dmitry and Oksana Chausov under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Believers are accused of "conducting individual classes (conversations) on the territory of Kursk to study the preaching materials of the religious movement "Jehovah's Witnesses" with new alleged followers of the "LRO of Jehovah's Witnesses of Kursk", while promoting the popularization of its ideas.

Searches are being carried out in the homes of believers in Kursk. Nikolay Kupriyansky, Dmitry and Oksana Chausov are detained. They are charged under Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The Leninsky District Court of Kursk, chaired by Judge Margarita Dyadyusheva, chooses preventive measures for believers: Dmitry Chausov - imprisonment for 2 months, Nikolai Kupriyansky and Oksana Chausova - house arrest for 2 months.

Dmitry Chausov has a serious chronic illness that requires constant use of prescription drugs. He cannot get them in the pre-trial detention center. Because of this, his disease progresses. Dmitry's wife Oksana is under house arrest, so she does not have the opportunity to go to the doctor and take a prescription.

Dmitriy is kept in a cell designed for 6 people, with two other prisoners. He has the ability to read the Bible.

For the third time, the judge of the Leninskiy District Court extends the house arrest of Nikolai Kupriyansky and Oksana Chausova and the detention of Dmitry Chausov until March 2, 2024.

Dmitry Chausov, who is being held in a pre-trial detention center, is experiencing certain difficulties due to his illness. In the fall, he spent 1 month in the hospital. He is also more likely to suffer from headaches. The mother-in-law could not give him medicines, as she was told that the pre-trial detention center had everything she needed. However, they were never given to Dmitry.

The believer maintains a positive attitude and does not lose heart. He receives many letters of support.

Dmitry Chausov is released from the pre-trial detention center under house arrest and allowed to walk for 2 hours a day. Oksana Chausova's house arrest is replaced with a ban on certain actions.

The case of Nikolai Kupriyansky and the Chausovs goes to the Kursk Regional Court, it will be considered by Judge Margarita Dyadyusheva.

The Chausovs are asking to change their preventive measure to a recognizance agreement. Dmitriy justifies this by the fact that he has a serious chronic illness and needs the care of his wife, but due to the ban on communication, they are forced to live separately. Oksana also says that she cannot take care of her spouse and elderly parents because of the ban on the use of communications.

The judge leaves the preventive measure unchanged for all three defendants - Nikolay Kupriyansky and Dmitry Chausov remain under house arrest, and Oksana Chausova - under a ban on certain actions.

The judge allows only the wife of Nikolai Kupriyansky to enter the courtroom.

Prosecutor Shashkova reads out the indictment, mispronouncing the name of God - Jehovah. Dmitry Chausov politely corrects her, which is why the judge reprimands him. Dmitriy explains that the incorrect pronunciation of God's name offends his religious feelings. Subsequently, the judge asks several times how to pronounce God's name.

The defendants present their attitude to the charges. They plead not guilty.

Dmitriy Chausov says: "I am just a believer who expressed his religious views using Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which guarantees everyone freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, including the right to profess, individually or in groups, any religion or not to profess any religion ... And I did all this without calling for violence, inciting hatred or discrimination against any social groups."

Oksana Chausova adds: "I consider this criminal case to be politically motivated repressions... Discussion of sacred texts, in this case the Bible, by a group of people, as well as receiving guests at home, caring for others are not included in the list of extremist activities. At its core, the accusation is based on the fact that we are believers and try to live as Jesus Christ commanded. This is a judgment on faith! And I am not ashamed to stand here today for being one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It would be shameful if we were tried for a real crime."

The court proceeds to examine the materials of the case. The testimony of an expert religious scholar is read out. The defense protests because it believes that its conclusions are based on false information.

The testimony of a prosecution witness, who did not appear in court because she left the country, is being voiced. At the same time, the prosecutor omits what characterizes Jehovah's Witnesses positively. It turns out that the same witness gave similar testimony in 2019 in the case of another believer from Kursk, Andrei Andreev.

Dmitriy Chausov asks the court to allow him to undergo a medical examination due to health problems. The judge refuses, arguing that the defendant does not have a doctor's report, and offers to take care of his health after the end of the trial.

The court continues to examine the materials of the case. The prosecutor reads out only the titles of the documents and briefly describes their contents. From the transcripts of the services, the judge asks to read out only the text highlighted by the investigator.

Dmitry and Oksana Chausov testify. They explain what they believe in and how Bible principles help them in their lives. The judge does not allow them to quote the Bible during the speech.

The defendants filed 15 motions, but the court did not satisfy any of them.

Dmitry Chausov asks the court to allow him to live and communicate with his wife, Oksana Chausova. The court grants this request, allowing the believer to change the address of his stay under house arrest, and also allows him to go for daily walks.

The prosecutor requests a imprisonment for the believers: Nikolay Kupriyansky - 7 years, Dmitry and Oksana Chausov - 3 years in a general regime colony.

In the course of the debate, Nikolay Kupriyansky emphasizes the groundlessness of the accusation of continuing the activities of a legal entity: "I am accused of organizing the activities of a liquidated organization due to the fact that the services recorded on audio and video recordings were held in an organized manner... I do not agree with such an accusation and its justification. As could be heard from the testimony of the defendants in this criminal case, Jehovah's Witnesses are followers of Jesus Christ, and they have always gathered together to study the Bible, pray to Jehovah God, and spiritually encourage and support each other."

"Your Honor, you have repeatedly said that our religious beliefs do not apply to this criminal case. But the content of the indictment suggests the opposite," Oksana Chausova notes. As practice in Russia has already shown, any connection with Jehovah's Witnesses is interpreted as a crime. The mere mention that a person belongs to a given religion is used to initiate operational-search activities."

Dmitry Chausov speaks in the debate. He has not pleaded guilty. According to him, all that the prosecution proved was his religious affiliation, which was not prohibited by law or by a court decision. Among other things, the believer draws attention to the testimony of a witness who feigned interest in the Bible, but later accused the Chausovs of putting pressure on him. Dmitriy emphasizes: "Just think about it: a young, healthy, capable guy, an athlete, a student, who called me on his own initiative and wanted to keep in touch with us, says that he was under pressure." Further, Chausov asks a rhetorical question: "What prevented him from simply stopping communicating with us and stop coming to visit us?" He reminds the court of the testimony of this witness: "I agreed to the officers that I would go to the end and bring the case through. I went to meetings that you invited me to and recorded them." Dmitriy continues: "So was there any pressure? And if so, on whose side is it really?"

The defendants make their final statements, emphasizing the inconsistency of the charges against them.

Judge: Margarita Dyadyusheva. Leninsky District Court of Kursk (7a Aleksandra Nevskogo Street, Kursk). Time: 11:00.