Case of Shchekoldina in Pavlovskaya

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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."

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.