Photo: Yuriy Zalipaev

Photo: Yuriy Zalipaev

Photo: Yuriy Zalipaev

Criminal trial

Hearings on the second criminal case for faith in the republic begin in the Elbrus region

Kabardino-Balkaria

On July 16, 2018, the Maysky District Court of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic begins hearings in the criminal case against local believer Yuriy Zalipayev, who became a victim of criminal prosecution under Part 1 of Article 282 and Part 1 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Incitement to hatred or enmity" and "public calls for extremist activity"). The case was initiated after printed materials included in the FSEM were planted in the worship building of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The initiation of this criminal case became known in August 2017. The criminal prosecution became possible after printed materials included in the FSEM were planted in the worship building of Jehovah's Witnesses. The believer faces up to 5 years in prison with deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.

The preliminary hearing in the case was held behind closed doors on July 4, 2018 by Judge Yelena Kudryavtseva. A similar case against Arkadi Hakobyan is already being heard in the district court of Prokhladny (Kabardino-Balkaria).

Case of Zalipayev in Mayskiy

Case History
It took a Jehovah’s Witness from Kabardino-Balkaria almost 5 years to prove that he was not an extremist. The criminal prosecution began in 2016, when the security forces “found” planted banned literature in the church building. The believer was charged with “inciting hatred and enmity” (later the article was decriminalized) and “public calls for extremist activities.” At the hearings in the Maisky District Court, it turned out that the special services were recruiting false witnesses in educational institutions where Zalipaev worked. The state prosecutor asked to appoint the believer to 2 years in prison, but the court acquitted him. In January 2021, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria approved this decision, and in February 2021, the prosecutor’s office made an official apology to Zalipaev. In July 2021, the Maisky City Court ruled to pay the believer one million rubles in compensation for moral damage, but the court of appeal reduced this amount to 500,000 rubles.
Timeline

Persons in case

Zalipayev
Yuriy

Criminal case

Region:
Kabardino-Balkaria
Locality:
Mayskiy
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he advocates the exclusivity of his religion (which is interpreted as extremism), and publicly urges others to carry out extremist activity
Court case number:
11702830005000056
Initiated:
August 10, 2017
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Mayskiy Interdistrict Investigative Department of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
280 (1)
Court case number:
1-1/2020 (1-4/2019; 1-89/2018;)
Examines on the merits:
Майский районный суд Кабардино-Балкарской Республики
Judge:
Елена Валерьевна Кудрявцева
Case History
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