Sergey Gromov during the appeal hearing via video conferencing, January 31, 2024

Sergey Gromov during the appeal hearing via video conferencing, January 31, 2024

Sergey Gromov during the appeal hearing via video conferencing, January 31, 2024

Unjust Verdicts

The Supreme Court of Tatarstan Upheld the Verdict of Sergey Gromov. A Peaceful Believer Going to a Penal Colony for 6 Years for His Religious Views

Tatarstan

On February 9, 2024, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tatarstan denied the appeal of Sergey Gromov, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, against the verdict and upheld it—6 years and 1 month of imprisonment in a penal colony. The believer can appeal this decision to the court of cassation.

In the appeal, the defendant's lawyer emphasized that such a verdict was against the constitution: "The court of first instance did not protect Gromov from religious discrimination against Jehovah's Witnesses."

Three other Jehovah's Witnesses from Tatarstan were sentenced to various terms in penal colonies, a total of 13 residents of this region are being prosecuted for their faith.

The Case of Gromov in Kazan

Case History
In March 2022, FSB officers detained Sergey and Yelena Gromov from Kazan at Vnukovo airport in Moscow. Turnes out, on the same day, an FSB investigator initiated a criminal case against Sergey, who practises the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses, for organizing the activity of an extremist organization. Two secret witnesses participated in the case, one of whom was an FSB officer. The believer was arrested and placed in a temporary detention facility, and 2 days later in a pretrial detention center. Searches were carried out in the apartment of the Gromovs and at two other addresses. Later, the man was suspected of violating another article of the Criminal Code – financing extremist activities. In February 2023, the case went to court, and in September of the same year, Gromov was convicted: 6 years and 1 month in a penal colony. In January 2024, the court of appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Gromov
Sergey

Criminal case

Region:
Tatarstan
Locality:
Kazan
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, he continued the activities of the liquidated religious organization by holding religious meetings at his place of residence
Court case number:
12207920001000008
Initiated:
March 15, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Branch of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Republic of Tatarstan
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
1-157/2023
Court of First Instance:
Московский районный суд г. Казани
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Алсу Гумирова
Case History