Valeriy Maletskov and Marina Chaplykina at the appeal hearing via videoconferencing from the pretrial detention center. January 14, 2025

Valeriy Maletskov and Marina Chaplykina at the appeal hearing via videoconferencing from the pretrial detention center. January 14, 2025

Valeriy Maletskov and Marina Chaplykina at the appeal hearing via videoconferencing from the pretrial detention center. January 14, 2025

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Novosibirsk Upheld the Verdict Against Two Jehovah's Witnesses. A Man and a Woman Will be Sent to a Penal Colony for Their Faith

Novosibirsk Region

On January 14, 2025, a panel of judges of the Novosibirsk Regional Court upheld the conviction of two believers: 6 years in a penal colony for Valeriy Maletskov for organizing the activity of an extremist organization and 4 years in a penal colony for Marina Chaplykina for participating in and financing it.

For more than 1 year — since the verdict was passed — the believers have been in a pretrial detention center. The first appeal hearing took place back in June 2024, however, as it turned out, the believers were not given the opportunity to fully familiarize themselves with the case materials. Due to this, the panel of judges postponed the trial for 6 months.

Addressing the court, Marina Chaplykina, 53, said: "I respect the state and judicial authorities, trying to do what Jesus Christ taught —'to pay back Caesar's things to Caesar's', that is, to obey the laws of my country: to pay taxes correctly, to respect representatives of the authorities... I believe that one day... people will live, enjoying good health, peaceful conditions and warm relationships... This is not extremism! This is hope for a happy future."

The minor child of Valeriy Maletskov, 50, will be left without his father's care for 6 long years. Marina Chaplykina is one of 16 women practising the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, who have been sentenced to a term in a penal colony.

The Case of Maletskov and Chaplykina in Novosibirsk

Case History
Even before the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses began in Russia, someone called “Ivan” attended meetings for worship in Novosibirsk and studied the Bible. In 2018, he began to cooperate with the FSB and collect information about believers. In April 2019, FSB officers invaded the homes of peaceful citizens; banned books were planted in some of the homes. A criminal case was initiated; Aleksandr Seredkin and Valeriy Maletskov were placed under house arrest. Marina Chaplykina had to sign a recognizance agreement. Later, the case of Seredkin was made into a separate proceeding; Maletskov was charged with organizing extremist activity, and Chaplykina with participating in and financing it. After 3 years of investigation, the case went to court. In December 2023, the court sentenced Maletskov to 6 years and Chaplykina to 4 years in a penal colony. In January 2025, the court of appeal upheld this decision.
Timeline

Persons in case

Сhaplykina
Marina
Maletskov
Valeriy

Criminal case

Region:
Novosibirsk Region
Locality:
Novosibirsk
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "organized meetings and supervised the reading and discussion of literature declared extremist" (with reference to the decision of the RF Supreme Court to liquidate all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses)
Court case number:
11907500001000015
Initiated:
April 19, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate for the Novosibirsk Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2), 282.3 (1), 282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-16/2023 (1-181/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Novosibirskiy District Court of the Novosibirsk Region
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Oleg Karpets
Case History
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