Yuriy Yuskov with friends on the day of the verdict

Yuriy Yuskov with friends on the day of the verdict

Yuriy Yuskov with friends on the day of the verdict

Unjust Verdicts

Court in Chuvashia Announced the Verdict Against One of the Oldest Prisoners of Conscience for his Faith. Yuriy Yuskov was given a 5-year suspended sentence

Chuvashia

On March 15, 2024, the trial one of Jehovah's Witnesses, Yuriy Yuskov, who will be 86 in less than a month, was completed in the Novocheboksarsk City Court of the Chuvash Republic. Judge Aleksandr Zubov gave him a 5-year suspended sentence with a 4-year probation period and 1 year and 4 months of restriction of freedom.

According to the investigation, Yuriy Yuskov is guilty of participating in the activity of an extremist organization and involving others in it, as he "carried out the preaching activity, conducting conversations and teaching religious beliefs." Without evidence he was accused of promoting the breakup of families. In response, the widower talked about his marriage to Lyudmila, who did not share his religious views: "My wife and I lived together for 59 years and 43 days. Your Honor, are many families today able to maintain their marriage for more than 1 year? I know for a fact that the Bible only strengthens family ties, not destroy them, even if family members practice different religions."

On April 20, 2017, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation liquidated the legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses but did not ban practicing this religion. This thought was emphasized by Yuriy Yuskov at one of the hearings: "The Russian authorities have repeatedly stated publicly that the ban applies only to legal entities and does not prevent believers from practicing their religion. And I understood that I had not lost the right to peacefully practice the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses."

The prosecution of pensioner Yuriy Yuskov began in November 2020, when they searched his home in the case of three believers from Cheboksary. The security forces returned for a second search in May 2023, when A. Mukhin, a senior investigator of the Investigative Department of the FSB of Russia for the Chuvash Republic, initiated a criminal case against him. The charge was based on the testimony of two secret witnesses; part of the court hearings was held behind closed doors, but the court allowed five listeners to attend the announcement of the verdict. About 30 more people who came to support the believer were waiting for the decision outside the courthouse.

Yuriy Yuskov intends to appeal the verdict.

The Case of Yuskov in Novocheboksarsk

Case History
In November 2020, pensioner Yuriy Yuskov's apartment was searched as part of the case of three believers from Cheboksary. Law enforcement officers seized electronic devices, personal notes and photographs from the elderly man. He was released after interrogation. The security forces returned for a second search in May 2023. At that time the believer was already 85 years old. He was placed under a recognizance agreement. The FSB accused Yuskov of participating in the activity of an extremist organization and involving others in it for talking about his peaceful beliefs. In January 2024, the case went to court, and two months later a verdict was passed – a 5-year suspended sentence with a 4-year probation period, and 1 year and 4 months of restriction of freedom. In May 2024, the court of appeal upheld this decision, slightly changing the additional restrictions.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Chuvashia
Locality:
Novocheboksarsk
Suspected of:
"carried out preaching activities, expressed in conducting conversations and teaching religious doctrine"
Court case number:
12307970001000016
Initiated:
May 4, 2023
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Federal Security Service of Russia in the Chuvash Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1.1), 282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-53/2024
Court of First Instance:
Новочебоксарский городской суд Чувашской Республики
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Александр Зубов
Case History
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