The case of Gorbunov in Krasnoyarsk

The Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Krasnoyarsk allows the investigator to conduct an operational-search measure in the form of a survey of Anatoly Gorbunov's home.

Early in the morning, Denis Filippov, a senior detective of the Center for Countering Extremism of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Krasnoyarsk Territory, under the guise of an examination, searches the apartment of Anatoly Gorbunov. Galina, Anatoly's wife, tells the details: the security forces, having woken up their neighbors in the stairwell, exerted psychological pressure on them, threatened to kick down the door, and also set up guards near the windows.

During the search, a laptop, a tablet, two phones, a flash drive and a hard drive are seized. Later, at about 10:00 a.m., Anatoliy Gorbunov was brought for interrogation to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and released an hour later.

Investigator of the Investigation Department for the Oktyabrsky District of Krasnoyarsk of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Khakassia Zhuikov K.O. initiates criminal case No. 12002040005000014 under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation against Anatoly Gorbunov.

According to investigators, Gorbunov's guilt lies in the fact that he organized religious meetings with fellow believers, which allegedly indicates the leadership of the activities of the banned organization.

Judge Sergey Gruzdev at a meeting of the Oktyabrsky District Court with the participation of the senior assistant prosecutor of the Oktyabrsky district of Krasnoyarsk R. K. Vakhitov satisfies the petition of investigator K. O. Zhuikov to conduct a personal search of Anatoly Gorbunov in order to detect and seize objects and documents relevant to the criminal case.

Investigator Zhuikov, in the presence of 2 witnesses and specialist Alexander Mironenko, conducts a personal search in the apartment of Anatoly Gorbunov. A bunch of 4 keys is taken from the believer, including the intercom and the apartment.

In the protocol, the defense counsel and the suspect indicate that they do not agree with the search procedure.

Investigator Konstantin Zhuikov completes the investigation of the criminal case against A. Gorbunov and submits the materials to the court.

The first court hearing in the case is being held in the Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk. Judge Maria Kunik grants Anatoly Gorbunov's petition to refuse the state lawyer. The believer will be protected by a lawyer by agreement.

Anatoliy expresses his attitude to the prosecution, quotes the statements of the Russian Federation that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited and the demands of the European Court of Human Rights to stop the persecution of believers in Russia. He also mentions that the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of April 20, 2017 does not prohibit the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses as a religious denomination in general, and believers are not required to stop exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms. The prayers and reading of the Bible, which are imputed to Gorbunov, testify only to the usual forms of expression of faith, which never depended on the existence of any legal entity. The defendant also quotes from historical documents, drawing parallels between the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Nazi Germany as well as the Soviet Union and the wording in his indictment.

Gorbunov asks to attach to the case file the resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of October 1, 2020; Views of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; documents confirming the persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Germany and the USSR.

A witness is being questioned by the prosecution. He states that the defendant organized all the services on his own. However, the witness may not repeat the information indicated in the record of his interrogation. After a series of clarifying questions from the defense, the witness insults the lawyer and refuses to answer his questions.

A secret witness "Salov", who repeatedly attended religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, made audio recordings and handed them over to law enforcement agencies, is being interrogated. The judge rejects the petition to declassify his identity.

About 30 people come to support the accused, but only three are allowed into the courtroom.

The lawyer challenges the prosecutor, referring to his bias in the case. The judge refuses.

The characteristics of Anatoly Gorbunov from the district police officer and neighbors are read out. All of them speak positively about him.

During the meeting, the case materials up to volume 7, including video files, are examined. Participants in the process note that they contain the encouragement of believers to prayer and reading the Bible.

24 people come to support Gorbunov, but no one is allowed into the courtroom for reasons of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of those present. Anatoly reads out the attitude to the charge, stating that it remains unclear and devoid of specifics, in connection with which a petition is filed to return the case to the prosecutor. The believer does not admit guilt in extremism, emphasizing that the Supreme Court did not prohibit Jehovah's Witnesses from practicing their faith, and the right to read the Bible and pray is enshrined in the Russian Constitution in the form of a provision on freedom of religion.

Judge Maria Kunik rejected the defense's motion to admit the audience to the hearing. The court begins to listen to CDs recording the defendant's Bible study with one of the local residents.

The prosecutor changes in the case.

35 people come to the courthouse to support the defendant.

Before the start of the hearing, the judge notifies Gorbunov that he has received a letter in English sent to the address of the Oktyabrsky Court. It contains words of support for Anatoly and his wife.

The court listens to one of the seven discs recording the discussion of the Bible.

About 50 people come to support the believer. The court continues to listen to the recording of the Bible study.

25 people come to the courthouse. The judge continues to review the video of the Bible study.

19 people come to support Gorbunov. The court continues to listen to the recording of the Bible study.

About 30 people come to the hearing. Listening to the Bible discussion continues.

15 caring people come to support the defendant. Judge Kunick listens to the recording of the Bible study again.

Friends once again support Anatoliy: 12 people come to the courthouse. The judge listens to the Bible study on record.

The prosecutor asks the court to find Anatoliy Gorbunov guilty of extremism and sentence him to 8 years in a penal colony.

The court session is adjourned.

Judge Maria Kunik found Anatoliy Gorbunov guilty and sentenced him to 6 years in a penal colony.