Photo: Konstantin Bazhenov

Photo: Konstantin Bazhenov

Photo: Konstantin Bazhenov

Unjust Verdicts

Convicted for Faith Konstantin Bazhenov Expects Early Release From the Colony. The Trial Is Scheduled for October 28

Saratov Region,   Ulyanovsk Region

On October 28, 2020 Dimitrovgrad city court of Ulyanovsk region will decide whether Konstantin Bazhenov will leave the colony in exchange for a fine. This Jehovah's Witness from Saratov, who was convicted for faith in God for 3.5 years, has already served 80% of his sentence and earned a reputation of a peaceful and hardworking man in prison.

"Konstantin Bazhenov was not convicted of a crime - he did not harm anyone. For many months he was unreasonably kept in jail, deprived of citizenship. He has a serious heart condition. It would be humane from the side of justice to stop persecuting a man suffering only because of his religious beliefs," said Jehovah's Witnesses European Association representative Yaroslav Sivulsky.

Konstantin Bazhenov, 45, has been in the Dimitrovgrad correctional colony since February 2020. He was escorted here from the Saratov detention center just over a month after an appeal court confirmed Saratov's conviction of the Leninsky District Court on September 19, 2019. The court found Konstantin and five of his fellow believers guilty of extremism for not giving up their peaceful religious beliefs.

On September 21, 2020 Bazhenov's defense exercised its legal right to apply for replacement of undone part of prison sentence of a believer with a fine. By that time, Konstantin had already served four-fifths (or 80 percent) of his sentence, including his stay in the Saratov temporary detention center and pretrial detention facility.

According to Viktor Shipilov, Konstantin Bazhenov's lawyer, all conditions were met to mitigate the sentence.

"First, Konstantin served more than half of his sentence. Secondly, he has various incentives, behaves respectfully and correctly towards the employees of the penitentiary system, is not in conflict, and is an exemplary family man," lawyer Viktor Shipilov said.

During his imprisonment, the believer has developed good relations with the administration of the colony and other prisoners who treat his religion in a kind manner.

Konstantin received rewards from the colony's administration for his participation in cultural and sporting events, as well as for his honest attitude to work and exemplary behavior. This contributed to the fact that in August 2020 the believer was transferred to easier conditions of detention. He did not receive any penalties during the entire time he was serving his sentence.

Konstantin Bazhenov has successfully mastered the profession of a painter-plasterer and is currently studying as a tiler. Konstantin's master describes him as "an accurate, ready to help others, proactive and attentive student."

"It is expected that the court will take the above facts into account when deciding on mitigation of Konstantin's sentence. By the way, not only his family and friends are waiting for him at home. One of the organizations is already ready to employ him as a driver with the possibility of receiving a social package," says the lawyer, stressing that at present there is no valid reason to refuse mitigation of punishment to Konstantin Bazhenov.

The arrest of Saratov believers, along with other cases of harassment of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia, has been strongly condemned by the international community.

Case of Bazhenov and Others in Saratov

Case History
In September 2019, Judge Dmitry Larin immediately sent 6 Saratov residents to prison for a term of 2 to 3.5 years just for reading the Bible, singing songs and praying. Since 2017, security forces have been conducting covert surveillance of believers. In the summer of 2018, their homes were searched with banned literature planted. While the investigation was underway, they had to go to a pre-trial detention center, under house arrest and under recognizance not to leave. A year later, despite the absence of victims in the case, the believers were found guilty. Upon arrival at the Orenburg colony, 5 out of 6 convicted believers were beaten by the staff of the institution. Mahammadiev was hospitalized, and the rest were placed in a punishment cell for a while. Saratov prisoners of conscience have mastered various professions in prison. In May 2020, Mahammadiev and Bazhenov were stripped of their Russian citizenship and, after their release, deported from Russia. All 6 believers have already served their sentences. In September 2022, the cassation court dismissed the complaint, and the verdict and the appellate ruling were unchanged.
Timeline

Persons in case

Criminal case

Region:
Saratov Region
Locality:
Saratov
Suspected of:
according to the investigation, together with others he conducted religious services, which is interpreted as “organising the activity of an extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the Russian Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11807630001000037
Initiated:
June 9, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Saratov Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-333/2019
Case History
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