The Case of Serdtseva and Others in Shakhunya

The deputy head of the investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice S. N. Galyamov, initiates a criminal case against unidentified persons for participation in the activities of an extremist organization.

The investigator summons Larisa Serdtseva and Nina Smirnova for questioning as suspects. They ask to postpone the investigation until an agreement is concluded with a lawyer, their request is granted.

T. A. Smirnova, senior investigator of the Investigative Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the city of Shakhunya, charges Larisa Serdtseva and Nina Smirnova with committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The indictment ruling states that they "held conversations and sermons with the residents of the city of Shakhunya, and also 'participated in religious meetings.'

The head of the investigation group, investigator Smirnova, in the ward of the Shakhun Central District Hospital, interrogates Zhanna Zhavoronkova, who is there after suffering a stroke. The investigator announces to the believer that she has been charged under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The case is referred to the Shakhun Inter-District Court. It will be considered by judge Dmitry Kameko.

The prosecutor reads out the charge. According to him, the guilt of the defendants lies in the fact that, "being in a place not established by the investigation... acting as a group of persons, [they] participated in meetings ... held through... Internet via videoconferencing using devices and software unidentified by the investigation", as well as that they "conducted conversations and sermons with a resident of the city of Shakhunya".

The court rejects several petitions of the defendants, including for more time to prepare a response to the charges. Believers do not agree with the charge and do not consider themselves guilty of extremism.

Despite the objections of all participants, the court granted the request of the editorial office of the local newspaper to film the process. More than 20 people come to support the believers.

The defendants express their attitude to the charge - they do not plead guilty.

"Since the early 1990s, there have been no complaints about Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia," says Nina Smirnova, "And now it turns out that I am an extremist, although extremism implies inciting hatred or hatred. But how can I hate someone if the Bible teaches me to love my neighbor as myself, teaches me even to love my enemies?"

Zhanna Zhavoronkova notes: "On April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation liquidated legal entities, but did not ban the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses. Then why is peaceful talk about Jehovah God treated as a crime? My religious beliefs are not dangerous and were formed long before 2017. In this case, how can I refuse them after 2017 just because the court banned the activities of legal entities?"

The lawyer asks to ensure the personal presence of prosecution witnesses in court, explaining that their affidavits are absolutely the same. The defense considers it necessary to interrogate them.