Case of Shchekoldina in Pavlovskaya

Case History

In April 2020, the FSB opened a criminal case against Lyudmila Shchekoldina from the village of Pavlovskaya. The accusation was based on the report of the agent of the special services Ilchenko that the believer allegedly tried to involve him in the activities of an extremist organization. This is how the investigation regarded his conversations with Shchekoldina on biblical topics. After a 9-hour search of the woman’s house and interrogation, they took a written undertaking not to leave the place. In May 2021, the case went to court. A year later, the court sentenced the believer to 4 years and 1 month in a penal colony. The appellate court upheld the verdict in October 2022. In March 2023, the cassation court did not change this decision. In the colony, Lyudmila’s health deteriorated and she was scheduled for surgery. For six months, the believer endured severe pain, and only in August 2023 did the administration of the colony allow her to receive the necessary treatment.
Timeline

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    Liquidation of LRO

    The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation makes a decision on the recognition of the Local Religious Organization (LRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses of the village of Pavlovskaya as an extremist organization and its liquidation.

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    An employee of the FSB of Russia in the Krasnodar Territory draws up a report "on the detection of signs of a crime", which in the future will become the reason for initiating a criminal case.

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (1.1)

    A.N. Kolerov, investigator of the 2nd division of the Investigation Department of the FSB of Russia in the Krasnodar Territory, initiates a criminal case against Lyudmila Shchekoldina under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

    The accusation is based on the report of the agent of the special services Ilchenko that Lyudmila tried to involve him in the activities of an extremist organization. This is how he regarded Shchekoldina's suggestion to become better acquainted with biblical teachings.

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    Art. 282.2 (1.1) Search Recognizance agreement

    A. N. Kolerov, investigator of the FSB of Russia for the Krasnodar Territory, makes a decision to bring Lyudmila Shchekoldina as a defendant under Part 1.1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (involvement in the activities of an organization banned by the court). The official document was handed to Lyudmila the next day.

    The Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnodar allows searches, including in the home of Lyudmila Shchekoldina.

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    Search Interrogation Health risk Recognizance agreement Elderly

    In the villages of Pavlovskaya and Kholmskaya of the Krasnodar Territory, searches are underway in 9 houses of believers, including Lyudmila Shchekoldina. For more than 9 hours, operatives have been carefully copying the seized personal belongings: electronic devices, flash cards, Bibles in various translations, books written by religious scholars, photo albums, as well as bank cards.

    Lyudmila Shchekoldina is formally charged. Investigator A. N. Kolerov interrogates the believer, she becomes ill. After the interrogation, a preventive measure is imposed on Lyudmila - a recognizance not to leave and proper behavior.

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    Case initiated Art. 282.2 (2) Interrogation Believers with a disability Recognizance agreement
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    Art. 282.2 (1.1) Art. 282.2 (2)

    Lyudmila Shchekoldina is charged with committing a crime under Part 1.1. and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

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    Case went to court

    The case materials are submitted to the Pavlovsky District Court of the Krasnodar Territory and appointed to Judge Olga Marchenko for consideration.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    Hearings on the merits of the case begin. Lyudmila Shchekoldina expresses her attitude to the charges.

    The believer does not admit guilt and considers the accusation illegal: "I am actually accused of believing in God and remaining a Jehovah's Witness, that is, enjoying the right guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution. [...] The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation made it clear that its decision of April 20, 2017 does not prohibit the constitutional rights of citizens, including mine. I believe that the preliminary investigation bodies are incorrectly and arbitrarily interpreting the decision of the Supreme Court. It is the misinterpretation, not the alleged crime I committed, that is the reason why I am in the dock today."

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance Interrogation

    The interrogation of witnesses begins, among them - the agent of the special services Valery Ilchenko, who kept a secret record of conversations about the Bible with believers.

    Ilchenko disagrees with some of the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, but acknowledges that everyone has the right to practice their religion and consider it correct. The witness admits that he did not receive an offer from anyone to join the Local Religious Organization (LRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses in the village of Pavlovskaya.

    The court is interrogating Maksim Beltikov. He explains to the court that he met with Lyudmila Shchekoldina and Valery Ilchenko once. Valery talked about his family problems, and they discussed advice from the Bible on the subject. The topic of legal entities of Jehovah's Witnesses was not raised. He adds that the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited by Russian law.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    Despite the fact that Lyudmila Shchekoldina is under recognizance not to leave, the judge allows her to leave for ten days of treatment.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance Interrogation

    The questioning of witnesses is ongoing. One of them is not familiar with the defendant and knows about her religious views only from the words of Valery Ilchenko.

    The questions of the judge and the prosecutor relate to beliefs, and not to the activities of the liquidated legal entity.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    18 people come to the courthouse to support Lyudmila Shchekoldina.

    The judge satisfies the lawyer's requests to terminate the criminal case and to admit evidence substantiating this petition.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    Having considered the motion to terminate the criminal case, the court refuses to satisfy it.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    The court begins to study the materials of the case, including audio recordings of conversations about the Bible made by Ilchenko.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    The judge refuses to satisfy the petition previously filed by the defense for the appointment of a second comprehensive examination.

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    Hearing in a court of the first instance

    Lyudmila Shchekoldina testifies. She draws attention to the difference between the activities of a legal entity (LRO) and peaceful meetings of believers.

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    Health risk

    It becomes known that the state of health of Lyudmila Shchekoldina has deteriorated, she needs surgery.

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    Prosecutor requested punishment

    During the debate in the Pavlovskiy District Court of the Krasnodar Territory, the prosecutor requested a sentence of 4 years and 6 months in a penal colony for Lyudmila Shchekoldina.

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    First Instance Sentence Deprivation of liberty

    The court finds Lyudmila Shchekoldina guilty under Articles 282.2 (1.1) and 282.2 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentences her to 4 years and 1 month in a penal colony. The woman is taken into custody in the courtroom.

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    Art. 282.2 (1.1) Art. 282.2 (2) First Instance Sentence Secret witness Health risk
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    Detention center

    After two days in the detention center (Vyselki village), Lyudmila Shchekoldina is transferred to the Krasnodar pre-trial detention center, located at 42 Voronezhskaya Street.

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    Life in prison Detention center

    The lawyer visits Lyudmila Shchekoldina in SIZO-1 in Krasnodar. She doesn't feel well. The conditions of detention in the pre-trial detention center are good, the cell is clean, but there are only 12 beds for 13 people, so Lyudmila has to sleep on a mattress on the floor. She is going to write a petition to the administration for the provision of a bed.

    Lyudmila's relationship with her cellmates is good, she has the opportunity to read the Bible from the library. The believer receives so many letters of support that she does not have time to answer them.

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    Court of Appeal Deprivation of liberty Art. 282.2 (1.1) Art. 282.2 (2)
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    Transfer of a prisoner

    It becomes known that Lyudmila Shchekoldina was moved to SIZO-1 in Volgograd - 600 km from home. Soon she is planned to be transferred to a women's colony in the Volgograd region.

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    Life in prison

    Lyudmila Shchekoldina is transferred to the women's correctional colony No. 28 in the city of Leninsk (Volgograd region) to serve her sentence.

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    Life in prison

    Lyudmila has been in the colony for 3.5 months. She begins each day by reading the Bible, which she borrowed from the local library. The believer is on the professional register, enjoys the respect of other convicts, because she is in a colony for her faith, knows the Bible perfectly well and gladly answers their questions. The administration treats Lyudmila well, living conditions are not bad, the food is normal.

    The believer works in a sewing workshop 5 days a week, and she is also involved in household chores: loading heavy things, snow removal. For health reasons, Lyudmila needs additional medical examination and surgery. Friends and relatives are willing to pay the costs involved.

    In December and January, Lyudmila was visited by her sister. In February, her friends came to visit her. The woman is supported by numerous letters from fellow believers from different countries.

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    Art. 282.2 (1.1) Art. 282.2 (2) Court of Cassation Deprivation of liberty
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    Life in prison Medical treatment within the Federal Penitentiary Service

    The believer's health continues to deteriorate and needs additional examination. Lyudmila re-wrote a statement with a request to take her to a medical institution for examination.

    Shchekoldina is not given her personal Bible, arguing that this copy was not published by the Orthodox Church, and encourages her to attend services held once a week by an Orthodox priest.

    Thanks to the intervention of a lawyer, Lyudmila is allowed to make phone calls to relatives, friends and a lawyer.

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    Life in prison Medical treatment within the Federal Penitentiary Service Torture conditions in detention Health risk

    Lyudmila Shchekoldina is taken to the hospital for surgery on internal organs. Although permission for this was given back in February 2023, the administration of the colony was in no hurry to send the believer for treatment. All this time, the woman was in severe pain.

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    Life in prison Medical treatment within the Federal Penitentiary Service

    It becomes known that the believer successfully underwent surgery in a civilian hospital. Lyudmila feels good, can already get out of bed and walk a little. 5 guards are on duty at her ward at the same time.

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    Life in prison Medical treatment within the Federal Penitentiary Service

    Lyudmila restores her health after undergoing surgery. Until January 9, she was on sick leave due to high fever. Now she is better, but due to the disease of the joints and spine, it is difficult for Lyudmila to work in the sewing workshop full-time, six days a week.

    The believer is in a detachment of 60 people and is tired of the noise. She is trying to get easier conditions of detention, with fewer people, but so far to no avail.

    Both personal and library copies of the Bible were seized from Lyudmila due to the fact that they do not have the seal of the church on them. However, Shchekoldin is supported by letters from friends and family.

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    Medical treatment within the Federal Penitentiary Service Life in prison

    Lyudmila is kept in a two-storey barracks, which accommodates 120 people. There are everything you need, including a fridge and a washing machine.

    The administration of the colony and cellmates treat Lyudmila well. The believer is undergoing rehabilitation after the operation - she is given anti-inflammatory injections.

    Lyudmila is worried that she has not been able to receive the Bible for a long time. Visits with loved ones, as well as letters of support, which she answers in her spare time, help her maintain a positive attitude.

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