Case of Reznichenko in Zeya

Case History

In March 2019, in Zeya, Amur Region, searches were carried out in the homes of believers with the seizure of electronic devices and personal records from them. Vasily Reznichenko, a former river captain, was prosecuted by FSB investigator V.S. Obukhov for participating in the activities of an extremist organization. Among the evidence of the believer’s guilt in the case file are hidden video recordings of worship services. Since March 21, 2019, Vasiliy Reznichenko has been under house arrest, and in November 2019 he was included in the List of Terrorists and Extremists. On this basis, the bank blocked all his personal savings. Also, at the request of the investigator, the believer was sent for a medical examination. On April 12, 2021, the prosecutor requested a 2-year suspended sentence for the 78-year-old believer with a probationary period of 8 months. In June 2021, Judge Oksana Brylyova convicted Vasily Reznichenko, imposing exactly the punishment requested by the prosecutor. On July 29, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the verdict.

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    March 11, 2019

    V. S. Obukhov, investigator of the Investigative Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Amur Region, initiates a criminal case for his faith under Article 282.2 (2) against 76-year-old Vasily Reznichenko.

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    March 21, 2019

    Searches are being conducted in the homes of Reznichenko and several other believers. Laptops, phones, personal records were seized.

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    October 31, 2019

    Investigator V. Obukhov sends a request for a medical examination of Vasily Reznichenko to the Zeya Hospital in order to identify "the presence (absence) of diseases that prevent the serving of a sentence of imprisonment."

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    November 6, 2019

    Vasiliy Reznichenko is included in the list of extremists of Rosfinmonitoring. The authorities are blocking his accounts and restricting his financial opportunities.

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    November 28, 2019
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    December 16, 2019

    An outpatient psychological and psychiatric examination is carried out.

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    September 4, 2020

    Vasily Reznichenko was indicted.

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    September 11, 2020

    The case is referred for consideration on the merits to the Zeysky District Court of the Amur Region.

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    November 11, 2020

    From the interrogation protocols, the judge reads out the testimony of witnesses who did not appear, including an FSB officer. However, counsel draws attention to the fact that the defendant is not mentioned in these protocols. The judge reads out the transcripts of the worship meetings made by a hidden camera. Vasiliy Reznichenko expresses his attitude to the accusation.

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    November 30, 2020

    Three prosecution witnesses are being questioned. To each of them, the judge, among other things, asks the question: "You did not quarrel with him [the defendant], did not swear, do not experience hostile relations?" All three answer in the negative.

    The judge reads out the testimonies of witnesses who did not appear from the interrogation protocols.

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    December 3, 2020

    From the transcripts of the liturgical meetings held in 2018, Judge Oksana Brylyova reads out the defendant's words: two prayers and several comments.

    Also, the judge announces a religious study carried out by specialist Olga Averina.

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    January 12, 2021

    Prosecution witnesses do not appear at the hearing. In this regard, the judge reads out the protocols of their interrogations made during the preliminary investigation, as well as the protocols of searches and examinations of material evidence from the defendant and witnesses in the case. The judge also reads out transcripts of wiretapping witnesses in the case.

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    March 4, 2021

    The last, 9th volume of the materials of the criminal case is read out: characteristics and thanks from the place of work of Vasily Reznichenko, a veteran of labor of the USSR, a characteristic from the district police officer and the conclusion of the medical commission on various chronic diseases.

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    April 12, 2021 Prosecutor requested punishment

    The prosecutor asks the court to find 78-year-old Vasily Reznichenko guilty of participating in extremist activities and to sentence the elderly believer to 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a probationary period of 8 months, taking into account his advanced age and state of health. The defense asks to fully acquit Reznichenko for lack of corpus delicti.

    Vasily Reznichenko speaks in the debate of the parties. He notes: "The lawful conduct of a person who professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses has been wrongly interpreted as a criminal offense." Meetings with fellow believers to worship God "do not mean the continuation or resumption of the illegal activities of the liquidated organization."

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    May 31, 2021
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    June 2, 2021 First Instance Sentence

    Judge of the Zeysky District Court of the Amur Region Oksana Brylyova sentences 78-year-old Vasily Reznichenko and finds him guilty of participating in the activities of an extremist association. The believer was sentenced to 2 years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of 8 months.

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    July 29, 2021 Court of Appeal

    The Amur Regional Court upheld the verdict. The Amur Regional Court upheld the verdict.

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    July 30, 2021