The case of Perefilieva in Mednogorsky

Judge of the Supreme Court of the KCR Islam Gerbekov issues an order to examine the homes of civilians in the village of Mednogorsky in order to "identify the facts of involvement in the activities of the banned organization of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Early in the morning in Mednogorskoye, FSB officers conduct surveys of at least three apartments of believers, including the apartment of Irina Perefilieva. Investigative actions are carried out even before the initiation of a criminal case, which is unacceptable under the law.

During the 3-hour event, Irina's mother becomes ill. Security forces seize electronic devices, data carriers, personal records and Bibles in various translations from believers.

Investigator for especially important cases of the Zelenchuksky Interdistrict Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the KChR, Colonel of Justice Andreyuk A.V. initiates a criminal case against Irina Perefilieva under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The investigation believes that while talking to people about the Bible and God, the believer committed "recruitment, persuasion and other involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization."

Also, investigator Andreyuk makes a decision to search Svetlana Gergokova. The search takes place early in the morning and lasts less than an hour.

Irina Perefilieva's home is being searched, which is led by R. P. Ebzeev, a police lieutenant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the KChR.

The basis for the search is the statement of a woman well known to Irina, who was allegedly involved in the activities of a religious organization. According to the believer, this woman herself tracked down Irina and asked for a Bible study. She told Perefilieva that in her youth she communicated with Jehovah's Witnesses.

Investigator A. Sh. Uzdenov issues a decision to initiate a criminal case against Irina Perefilieva under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The ruling states that the believer "shared the goals and objectives" of the local religious organization, and also "voluntarily took part in its activities."

The believer is accused of not stopping believing in Jehovah God from 2017 to 2019, but, on the contrary, continued to "organize meetings, services, congresses of Jehovah's Witnesses", carried out "recruiting conversations" and "preaching activities", conducted "classes to study the basics of religious activity and religious literature of Jehovah's Witnesses".

Irina Perefilieva is charged with a written undertaking not to leave the place.

The case is submitted to the Urup District Court of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Ida Uzdenova is appointed as a judge.

Irina expresses her attitude to the accusation: "Joint discussion of creeds, prayer and worship is a common practice for many denominations, the spread of faith or preaching is a distinctive feature of Christianity." The defendant notes that criminal prosecution for such actions "without establishing at least one sign of extremism - and not a single such fact is cited in the present charge - is illegal."

Concluding her speech, the believer asks the court: "How, while remaining one of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, can I enjoy the rights provided for by [Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation]? In what ways can I express my beliefs and in what ways can I not? What do I have the right to do and what should I avoid in order to remain a believer but not suffer criminal punishment?"

Friends come to support Irina. Although the hearing is held in an open mode, none of them are allowed into the courtroom, citing covid restrictions.

The court is questioning three prosecution witnesses. They cannot say anything on the merits of Irina Perefilieva's case.

The next witness is FSB officer Ilya Klimenko, who participated in the search of the home of another believer from Mednogorsky, Aleksey Pasynkov. He talks about what was found during the searches, about wiretapping and about examinations. When asked by Irina if there is evidence that she involved a woman interested in the Bible in the activities of the organization with the help of materials sent for examination, she does not receive a clear answer. The judge makes a remark to Irina not to ask such questions.

In turn, the above-mentioned woman says that she herself asked Irina to study the Bible with her, because she wanted to get rid of psychological problems.

Recordings of conversations on biblical topics of Irina Perefilieva with a woman, on the basis of whose testimony the believer was searched, are listened to.

The judge reports that a letter has been received from Germany from a family of Jehovah's Witnesses asking them not to punish Irina Perefilieva for her faith. Answering a question from the court, the believer says that she does not know this family. The letter is attached to the case.

Further, Irina partially examines the 1st and 2nd volumes. The judge interrupts her, and Irina proceeds to read out her written notes.

At the request of the lawyer, the witness with whom Irina talked about the Bible is re-interrogated. She says that there were no calls against the authorities from Perefilieva. The woman also states that she did not keep a record of Bible classes on the instructions of the FSB. At the same time, the defense believes that the opposite follows from the audio recordings.

Prosecutor Aleksandr Demenkov asks for punishment for Irina Perefilieva. He takes into account the absence of aggravating circumstances in the case and asks the court to impose a 4-year suspended sentence on the believer.

"I am convinced that I am in the dock not for a crime, but for my faith," Irina Perefilieva speaks with her last word.