The Case of Stashevskiy in Sevastopol

Investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol Andreev Y. A. initiates a criminal case for faith against Viktor Stashevskiy under Part 1 of Article 282.2. He is accused of "continuing the activities and promoting the ideas of Jehovah's Witnesses, holding meetings, and carrying out religious performances."

FSB officers are conducting a series of searches in at least 9 houses of residents of Sevastopol. Believers are not provided with copies of the court order for the search, the protocol of interrogation, the search of the premises is carried out without the presence of the owners of the apartments or their movement is prohibited. Security forces use force against a 91-year-old woman, threaten others with planting drugs, blackmail relatives, damage or break personal property, and prevent them from drinking water or going to the toilet for four hours.

15 people, including Viktor Stashevskiy (born in 1966), become innocent victims of law enforcement officers. After the searches, he was detained and placed in a temporary detention facility.

Viktor Stashevskiy was chosen as a preventive measure in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the place and released from custody.

Another family of believers, Vladimir Petrovsky and his wife Victoria, is being searched. As a result, Vladimir was detained.

FSB investigator F.A. Rybalka completes the investigation into the case of Viktor Stashevskiy and submits it to the court for consideration on the merits.

Stashevskiy is accused of allegedly "being the ideological inspirer of an extremist organization, using his authority, well-developed volitional qualities and organizational skills, as well as the special knowledge and propaganda skills he previously acquired, [...] deliberately took active organizational actions in order to continue the illegal activities of an extremist organization banned by the court."

The meeting starts late and lasts about 45 minutes. The defense informs the court that the believer is being tried solely for his religious beliefs, which violates his constitutional rights. The defendant himself reports that the prosecution did not give him the opportunity to familiarize himself with the materials in full, for which the prosecutor receives a reprimand from the judge.

The first hearing in the case of Viktor Stashevskiy is held in the Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol. The court admits the views of the UN Working Group, but rejects the request for video recording.

In connection with the refusal of the accused to provide the services of a lawyer due to financial difficulties, the judge decides to leave the public defender. The believer does not admit guilt.

Two prosecution witnesses are being questioned. The first, a former member of the local Christian religious organization (MHRO) of Jehovah's Witnesses, confirms that they were both members of it, but have not seen each other for more than three years. After the injunction, MHRO did not conduct any activity, since it was liquidated. The witness distinguishes between the concepts of a legal entity (MHRO) and a religious group (meeting), explaining that biblical texts and commentaries were never discussed at the meetings of the legal entity, chants were not sung, videos were not viewed, etc. The role of the MHRO was mainly limited to the conclusion of lease agreements for premises for major events. The participants of the MHRO satisfied their spiritual needs on their own.

The next to testify is the FSB officer, detective Dmitry Shevchenko. At first, he confirms that the Omega congregation of believers was not part of the MHRO, but then, realizing his mistake, he begins to give contradictory testimony. According to him, in addition to the founders, there are an unspecified number of "parishioners" and "elders" in the MHRO, and the parish of Jehovah's Witnesses, such as the Omega congregation, is not a religious group.

After that, the prosecutor and the judge begin to reject the questions of Stashevskiy and his lawyer under the pretext that they are in the nature of assumptions. After the end of the trial, the FSB officer began to intimidate those present, defiantly photographing them.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 30. The questioning of prosecution witnesses will continue.

Contrary to the established procedure, Judge Valentin Norets begins the questioning of prosecution witnesses without giving the parties the opportunity to file motions.

Both interrogated witnesses, being former members of the MHRO (local Christian religious organization), say that after April 20, 2017 (the date of the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on the liquidation of 396 legal entities, organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses), none of the legal entity, including Viktor Stashevsky, ever got together, the activities of the liquidated organization were not discussed or resumed.

Witnesses explain the significant difference between a legal entity and independent unregistered religious groups: "MHRO was engaged exclusively in economic and legal activities, primarily for the maintenance of its worship building, as well as for the conclusion of lease agreements for large premises [...] There were no chanting, Bible readings, religious literature studies, or videos at the MHRO meetings."

Once again, the established procedure of the trial is violated. Despite the fact that all prosecution witnesses must be questioned first, the judge calls defense witnesses. (On the part of the prosecution, the secret witness "Ivanova Vasilisa Ivanovna" and witness D. B. Korkushko, who allegedly attended services of Jehovah's Witnesses until 2017, remain unquestioned.) Two defense witnesses give a positive characterization of the defendant.

Viktor Stashevskiy is trying to exercise his right to file petitions. Judge Norets rejects his requests for video recording of the hearing, for the defendant's attitude to be included in the charge, as well as for the production of an audio copy of the previous hearing.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 21, 2020.

In Sevastopol, since 6 a.m., security forces in camouflage have been invading the homes of believers at three addresses, searches are being conducted. Two men are taken away for interrogation to the department of one of the local law enforcement agencies. It is not yet known whether the special events are related to the case against Viktor Stashevskiy.

In the Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol, in connection with the change of judge in the case, hearings begin anew. (Judge Valentin Norets resigned, Pavel Kryllo was appointed the new judge.) The prosecutor announces the essence of the charge. Judge Kryllo interrogates a witness for the prosecution, an employee of the Sevastopol FSB, detective Dmitry Shevchenko.

The court attaches to the case documents confirming that the 85-year-old mother of Viktor Stashevskiy needs constant care, which only her son can provide her.

Another court hearing in the case of Viktor Stashevskiy. The appointed lawyer of the defendant is absent due to participation in the appeal in the Supreme Court of Crimea. The believer's defense is represented by another lawyer appointed the night before.

The court hears the testimony of the specialist Panischev and the witness on the part of the defense.

Judge Pavel Kryllo unexpectedly declares that on March 16 the court may proceed to the debate of the parties. Thus, the judge ignores the stage of examination of the case materials.

Participants in the trial consider material evidence — audio recordings of religious meetings. The next meeting, which is scheduled for March 22, will also be devoted to the consideration of material evidence.

The prosecution is requesting 7 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony for Viktor Stashevskiy. On March 29, 2021, the believer will deliver his last word in court, and the court will pronounce a sentence on him.

The Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol sentences Viktor Stashevskiy to six and a half years in a general regime colony. The believer is taken into custody.

The lawyer visits Viktor Stashevskiy in the pre-trial detention center. Viktor is being held in a 16-bed cell. He does not complain about his health, he is allowed daily walks. On April 24, he was given a copy of the Bible, but he has not yet received it. The believer regularly receives letters of support.