Photo: Alexey Metzger

Photo: Alexey Metzger

Photo: Alexey Metzger

Administrative Prosecution

350 thousand rubles will be paid to the state by a resident of Perm for the right to practice his religion. The verdict was announced to Alexei Metzger

Perm Territory

Judge Svetlana Chereneva from the Ordzhonikidze District Court of Perm found 44-year-old Aleksey Metzger guilty under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation in extremist activities). By the court verdict of November 14, 2019, he was fined 350 thousand rubles.

The judge did not support the prosecutor's demand for a three-year prison term for the peaceful believer. It is noteworthy that another Jehovah's Witness from Perm, Alexander Solovyov, was also previously fined a comparable amount.

The case against civil engineer Alexei Metzger was based on two episodes - a lecture on a biblical topic in a local house of culture and a conversation in a private apartment. The prosecution did not provide evidence that Metzger committed extremist acts or called for them of others, but the court considered that the mere fact of professing the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is sufficient for a conviction. The believer's defense considers the sentence for believing in God illegal and will appeal against it.

Alexei Metzger became the 28th resident of modern Russia to be criminally convicted for professing faith in Jehovah.

Case of Metsger in Perm

Case History
On April 25, 2019, A. E. Leontiev, investigator of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Perm Territory, opened a criminal case against 43-year-old Aleksey Metzger for participation in extremist activities (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) solely on the basis that he professes the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is based on audio recordings of peaceful discussion of biblical teachings by believers. Aleksey’s case was separated from the criminal case of Aleksandr Solovyov, another believer from Perm. Thanks to his faith, Alexey was able to get rid of bad habits and create a strong family. Despite all this, the investigation charged a simple civil engineer with a serious criminal article. On November 14, 2019, Judge Svetlana Chereneva from the Ordzhonikidze District Court of Perm found the believer guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 350 thousand rubles. The Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation dismissed the appeal against the decision of the lower court.
Timeline

Persons in case

Metsger
Aleksey

Criminal case

Region:
Perm Territory
Locality:
Perm
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, he "propagandized the activity of a banned organization, directly pa​rticipated in the events conducted by Jehovah's Witnesses, and commited other actions aimed at conducting and participating in such events"
Court case number:
11902570030000022
Initiated:
June 10, 2019
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Perm Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-461/2019
Court:
Ordzhonikidzevskiy District Court of Perm
Judge:
Svetlana Chereneva
Case History
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