The Appeal in Kemerovo Upheld the Sentence of Lyubov Serebryakova, 72. She Received a Four Years of Suspended Sentence<br>

On September 5, 2023, the Kemerovo Regional Court upheld the verdict of Lubov Serebryakova, 72, who was sentenced to four years of suspended sentence with a probation period of three years and restriction of liberty for ten months for talking about God. The verdict may be appealed in the court of cassation.

In her appeal, Lubov Serebryakova pointed out the mistakes that, in her opinion, were made by the court of first instance. For example, the verdict does not describe the specific extremist actions that she had participated in that prosecution claims to have taking place. The dates, times and places of any extremist actions and their role in the propitiation of the activities of the banned organization are not indicated. In addition, the believer notes that "the verdict cannot be based on the assumptions" of prosecution witnesses. Testifying, they explained that they did not know the defendant and had not met her before. One of them is a clergyman of another denomination, who also could not confirm anything of what the pensioner is accused of.

Before the start of the unfair criminal prosecution, Lubov experienced two heart attacks, and shortly before the completion of the pre-trial investigation, she again needed emergency cardiac care.

Russian courts have already convicted 85 Jehovah's Witnesses over the age of 60. Of these, 21 believers received an actual term of imprisonment, 12 people are in penal colonies at the moment.