Aleksey Trofimov, Olga Panyuta, Olga Opaleva, Dmitriy Malevaniy on the day of the verdict. February 2023

Aleksey Trofimov, Olga Panyuta, Olga Opaleva, Dmitriy Malevaniy on the day of the verdict. February 2023

Aleksey Trofimov, Olga Panyuta, Olga Opaleva, Dmitriy Malevaniy on the day of the verdict. February 2023

Unjust Verdicts

Primorye Territory Court Insignificantly Reduced Harsh Terms of Imprisonment of Jehovah's Witnesses Convicted of Extremism

Primorye Territory

On May 3, 2023, the Primorye Territory Court reduced the terms of punishment by 2 months for residents of Spassk-Dalniy convicted for their faith. Three believers will go to a penal colony: Dmitriy Malevaniy for 6 years and 10 months, Aleksey Trofimov for 6 years and 4 months and Olga Panyuta for 4 years and 4 months. The suspended sentence for Olga Opaleva will be 4 years and 10 months.

Three months earlier, Pavel Bobrovich, judge of the Spassky District Court of the Primorye Territory, found these believers guilty of extremism for meeting together to discuss the Bible. In their appeal against the verdict, they pointed to significant violations of the RF Constitution and an erroneous approach to the consideration of the case. For example, the court of first instance came to the conclusion that believers did not have the right to worship together, but only individually. This position contradicts the statement of the Plenum of the RF Supreme Court.

To find a person guilty of extremism, the prosecution must establish and prove a motive of hatred or enmity. Neither this nor any other specific extremist actions by the defendants are found in the case materials.

The defendants emphasize that their activity have nothing to do with crime. “Showing hatred, enmity and violence is incompatible with my views. I respect people of other religions and nationalities. They convicted me just for my faith in God, which is a violation of the norms of Russian and international law,” 71-year-old Olga Opaleva said in court.

The convicted persons have the right to appeal the appeal decision in cassation procedure. Dmitriy Malevaniy, 33, Aleksey Trofimov, 64, and Olga Panyuta, 63, remain in custody and are awaiting transfer to a penal colony.

The criminal prosecution of the believers from Spassk-Dalniy began in November 2018. As in many other cases — with searches. Afterwards, the believers were sent to a temporary detention facility, and then placed under house arrest for almost a year. The day before the search, Olga Opaleva suffered a heart attack, and a year later, a stroke.

In total, 51 Jehovah's Witnesses have already faced prosecution for their faith in the Primorye Territory and are defendants in 21 criminal cases. Suspended sentences have already been given to 21 believers, including Vitaliy Ilinykh, the son of Olga Opaleva.

According to the decision of the RF Supreme Court, the letter of the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the decision of the Plenum of the RF Supreme Court, the participation of believers in peaceful worship should not be considered a crime, after the liquidation of legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Case of Malevaniy and Others in Spassk-Dalniy

Case History
In the fall of 2018, searches were carried out in Spassk-Dalniy at the homes of Dmitriy Malevaniy, Aleksey Trofimov, Olga Panyuta, Olga Opaleva and other fellow believers. The reason for the prosecution of peaceful citizens was their faith in Jehovah God. The believers were charged with organizing the activity of an extremist organization and involving others in it. The case is based on the testimony of secret witnesses “Sidorova” and “Ivanova”, who monitored the believers on instructions from the FSB. On the eve of the search, Olga Opaleva suffered a heart attack, and later, on the way to court, a stroke. The four believers spent 1 year under house arrest, and from November 2019 were under a recognizance agreement. In December 2019, the case went to court. In February 2023, the believers were sentenced: Dmitriy Malevaniy was given 7 years, Aleksey Trofimov — 6.5 years and Olga Panyuta — 4.5 years in a penal colony, and Olga Opaleva — 5 years suspended. The court of appeal reduced each of these terms by 2 months; the court of cassation upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Primorye Territory
Locality:
Spassk-Dalny
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, unlawfully organized the activity of the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Spassk-Dalniy (with reference to the decision of the RF Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11802050020000065
Initiated:
November 12, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Primorye Territory
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.2 (1.1)
Court case number:
1-4/2023 (1-4/2022; 1-7/2021; 1-70/2020; 1-570/2019)
Court of First Instance:
Spasskiy District Court of the Primorye Territory
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Pavel Bobrovich
Case History
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