Court of Appeal in Birobidzhan Reaffirmed Verdict Against Nataliya Kriger. After Court Reconsidered her Case, She was Given a 2.5-Year Suspended Sentence for Her Faith in God

On May 22, 2023, the court of the Jewish Autonomous Region held the third hearing in the case of Nataliya Kriger on an appeal — this time against a new guilty verdict for her faith issued after previous decisions had been overturned. The 2.5-year suspended sentence entered into force.

Nataliya does not consider herself guilty and has been defending her constitutional right to freedom of religion in courts for 2 years and 8 months already. In her appeal, she stated that the court of first instance had not taken into account her right to remain a believer after the liquidation of the legal entity of the religious organization. In addition, she stated that she was convicted under an article for extremism without citing specific extremist actions. According to Nataliya, the court ignored her arguments and explanations regarding her peaceful religious beliefs. She said: “The expression of hatred or enmity, or the division of people along class or social lines is alien to me. My religious views are based on the Bible. They are expressed in two basic commandments: love God and love people”.

The believer faced criminal prosecution in May 2018 when her home was raided as part of the "Judgement Day” operation. In February 2020, a criminal case was initiated against her. After 6 months of investigation and 11 months of litigation, in July 2021, Nataliya was given her first guilty verdict. Later, the court of appeal upheld it, and then the court of cassation returned the case to the stage of appeal, which, in turn, sent it for a new trial to the court of first instance.

In March 2023, the Birobidzhanskiy District Court again found Nataliya Kriger guilty of participating in the activity of an extremist organization, imposing a 2.5-year suspended sentence with a 2-year probation period and restriction of freedom for 1 year.

In December 2022, the same Birobidzhanskiy District Court sent Nataliya's husband Valeriy to a penal colony for 7 years on similar charges. He is awaiting an appeal hearing in his criminal case.

Russian human rights activists and the global community condemn the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. The ECHR recognized these actions as illegal and called on the Russian Federation to the believers.