Prosecutor's office demands 3 years in prison for the second defendant in Oryol

On March 18, 2019, the trial of Jehovah's Witness Sergey Skrynnikov in Oryol proceeded to the stage of debate. Prosecutor Naumova asked for a real prison term for the believer, accused under the article "participation in the activities of an extremist organization" - three years in a general regime colony plus one year of restriction of movement. After the prosecutor's speech, the Railway Court of Orel gave the lawyer the opportunity to speak. The defense insists on the absolute innocence of the 56-year-old believer.

On March 28, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., Sergey Skrynnikov will have the last word, after which the court will retire for sentencing. The verdict is expected to be announced in court on April 1, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

The case of Sergei Skrynnikov is the second case in the city after the well-known case of the Danish citizen Dennis Christensen, whom the same court sentenced to 6 years in prison. The criminal prosecution of these law-abiding Orlov residents is a direct consequence of the liquidation and prohibition of the activities of registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses. A number of "evidence" in the Skrynnikov case, such as linguistic, religious, and computer expertise, were separated from the Dennis Christensen case.

Sergey Skrynnikov was charged on May 8, 2018, and since then he has been under recognizance not to leave. On the same day, an inspection was carried out in his house, during which not a single object prohibited by law was found. Like Dennis Christensen, Sergey Skrynnikov has never been a member of the local religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses "Oryol" and has not participated in its activities.