Court Irina Perefileva from Mednogorskiy a 5.5-year Suspended Sentence for Reading the Bible
Karachay-Cherkessia*Text updated August 30, 2023
On August 28, 2023, the Urupskiy District Court of the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic found 58-year-old Irina Perefileva guilty of extremism because of her faith. Judge Ida Uzdenova gave her a 5.5-year suspended sentence with a 2.5-year probation period and restriction of freedom for 1 year and 8 months.
"My religious beliefs have nothing in common with extremism," Irina Perefileva said in court. "My conscience is clear before the law, society and the state, because I did not commit the crime I am charged with."
In January 2021, in the village of Mednogorskiy, FSB officers raided the apartments of believers, among them was Irina. After 10 months, her home was searched again. The Zelenchukskiy Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic charged Irina with involving others in the activity of an extremist organization and participating in it. This is how the investigators regarded the fact that Irina talked to others about the Bible and participated in peaceful religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Perefileva was placed under a recognizance agreement in October 2022. Also, she was added to the Rosfinmonitoring list; all her accounts and savings were blocked. She states: "This delays the issuance of my pensions and creates inconvenience in paying utility bills and other services." Irina's disabled son and her elderly mother, who is 85, are dependent on her.
The investigation lasted a year and in November 2022 the case went to court. As the defense emphasizes, no evidence of the believer's guilt was provided. A key witness for the prosecution, a local resident, stated that she herself turned to Irina with Bible questions. She also stressed that she had never heard calls for any illegal activity from Irina. During the hearings, the judge attached to the case a letter received from Germany from Irina's fellow believers with a request not to punish Irina Perefileva for her faith.
The verdict has not entered into force and can be appealed.
Active prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Karachayevo-Circassian Republic has been observed since 2010. Four people have been made defendants in criminal cases. Two of them have already received suspended sentences.
