The Regional Court Reduced the Suspended Term of an Elderly Believer from Knyaze-Volkonskoye by a Year

On September 17, 2024, the Khabarovsk Regional Court commuted the sentence of Valeriy Rabota, 62, giving him a five-year suspended sentence for participating in peaceful worship services. Prosecutor Taisiya Kovtunova sought tougher punishment: she asked to replace the six-year suspended sentence with a real one.

Valeriy Rabota himself completely denies the guilt of extremism. In his complaint, he noted: "My actions were completely peaceful. The prosecution did not claim that I incited violence or religious hatred and enmity. On the basis of Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, my fellow believers and I had every right to meet to discuss the Bible and communicate, which in no way depends on the existence of any religious organization." As noted by the defense, a guilty verdict, in fact, means that if the convict does not renounce his religious beliefs, he will again be subjected to criminal prosecution.

Two years of investigation and litigation did not pass without a trace for Valeriy: his chronic diseases worsened; he suffered a stroke. Other persecuted Jehovah's Witnesses face similar difficulties. Elderly believers are particularly at risk. In Russia, more than 200 Jehovah's Witnesses over the age of 60 have already become defendants in criminal cases because of their religious beliefs.