Case of Turik and Others in Perm

The Investigative Department of the FSB of Russia for the Perm Territory initiates a criminal case for faith under Article 282.2 (1); According to the investigation, together with others, he conducted worship services, which is interpreted as "organizing the activities of an extremist organization" (with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to liquidate all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses). Innocent victims of law enforcement officers are: Igor Turik (born in 1968), Viktor Kuchkov (born in 1967), Boris Burylov (born in 1941).

The criminal case against Turik and others is submitted to the Industrial District Court of the city of Perm.

About 10 people come to the courthouse to support the believers: Igor Turik, Boris Burylov, Alexander Inozemtsev, Viktor Kuchkov, Yuri Vaag.

Audio recordings of telephone conversations are listened to at the court session and video recordings of worship services are viewed.

Defense witnesses speak at the court hearing.

They give positive characteristics to the defendant Inozemtsev. Witnesses note that the believer is a kind, honest person, a responsible worker, and a caring family man.

One of the witnesses explains that the believer Inozemtsev was not the chairman of the LRO after its closure in 2017, and the rest of the believers could not participate in this legal organization, but simply professed their religion.

Judge Viktor Podyniglazov partially satisfies the petition for consideration of the unexamined materials of the case.

At the next hearing, the defendants are scheduled to speak.

The court is questioning prosecution witnesses who knew the defendants before the Supreme Court banned the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses legal entities in Russia in 2017. All of them then ceased to keep in touch with believers. Witnesses for the prosecution have nothing negative to say about the accused.

Defence witnesses speak. One of them explains that no one obliged her to attend meetings of believers or make donations; She did not hear any calls for extremism from the accused. Another says that she has never been a member of the LRO and has not met with the defendants since 2017.

The debate of the parties is scheduled for April 8.

During the debate in the Industrial District Court of Perm, the prosecutor requests 9 years in prison for the 52-year-old father of two minor children, Igor Turik, for 80-year-old Boris Burylov and 53-year-old Viktor Kuchkov, 7 years in prison, for 45-year-old Yuri Vaag and 48-year-old Alexander Inozemtsev, who also has a minor child, 4 years in a general regime colony.

Despite the fact that the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses is not prohibited in Russia, the prosecutor baselessly believes that the discussion of the Bible with fellow believers should be considered the organization and continuation of the activities of the liquidated religious organization.

On April 27, the debate will continue, after which the believers will deliver the last word.

The last word of the defendant is addressed to the court by believers Alexander Inozemtsev (text), Viktor Kuchkov (text), Yuri Vaag (text). 80-year-old Boris Burylov also addresses the court with a vivid speech (text).

Igor Turik's speech is expected on April 29.

Referee: Victor Podyniglazov. Industrial District Court of Perm (Perm, Mira St., 17).

The verdict is announced: to find Igor Turik guilty under Part 1 of Article 282.2 and Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and to impose a sentence of 7 years of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of 4 years; to reclassify the article of the charge for Boris Burylov and Viktor Kuchkov to a milder one, Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and impose a sentence of 2.5 years of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of 3 years; To find Aleksandr Inozemtsev and Yuriy Vaag guilty under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and to impose a sentence of 2.5 years of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of 3 years. The verdict can be appealed.

The Perm Regional Court upholds the verdict against Jehovah's Witnesses Igor Turik, Aleksandr Inozemtsev, Yuriy Vaag, Viktor Kuchkov and Boris Burylov.

The Seventh Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Chelyabinsk upholds the verdict of the Industrial District Court of Perm against Igor Turik, Boris Burylov, Viktor Kuchkov, Alexander Inozemtsev and Yuri Vaag. The believers were sentenced for their beliefs to terms ranging from 2.5 to 7 years on probation.