Russia: 2015 prosecutions for publicly sharing beliefs
| Publisher | Forum 18 |
| Author | Victoria Arnold |
| Publication Date | 18 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Forum 18, Russia: 2015 prosecutions for publicly sharing beliefs, 18 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/573d62e04.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Unapproved sharing of beliefs were a quarter of 2015 prosecutions for public events in Russia. Forum 18 found 119 individuals and 3 religious organisations prosecuted, a sharp rise on 2014. Initial punishments were 80 fines, 2 short-term jailings and one community service term.
Large numbers of individuals across Russia are facing prosecution for expressing their religious beliefs in public under legislation which provides little clear explanation of how "violations" may be committed, Forum 18 has found. Charges often result in lengthy court proceedings, and fines. In some cases, fines represent nearly two-thirds the average monthly wage and nearly twice the average monthly pension. These can place a heavy burden on the poor, elderly, and unemployed.
Charges are brought overwhelmingly against Jehovah's Witnesses, Forum 18 has found, although members of several other religious groups, including Baptist churches and the Chinese spiritual movement Falun Gong, have also been taken to court. Few defendants are acquitted, and appeals against convictions rarely succeed.
Based on Forum 18's analysis of available court verdicts, 119 individuals and three religious organisations are known to have been brought to court between January and December 2015 for exercising their right to freedom of religion and belief in public space (see case listing below). Prosecutions were brought under the Code of Administrative Offences' Article 20.2 ("Violation of the established procedure for organising or conducting a gathering, meeting, demonstration, procession or picket").
This represents a sharp increase on the 23 known prosecutions under Article 20.2 for exercising the right to freedom of religion or belief in public in 2014 (see F18News 2 March 2015 http://www.forum18.org/
2015 Punishments
These prosecutions led to 80 fines, two short-term jailings, and one sentence of community service (before appeals). A further two individuals were convicted but not punished because of the "insignificance of the violation", according to court verdicts. Another court dismissed four prosecutions because the alleged offence did not fall under Article 20.2. Only 33 out of the 122 defendants were initially acquitted (before appeals).
Individuals or religious communities who wish to or whose beliefs require them to share the tenets of their faith in public, beyond the confines of a place of worship, are particularly vulnerable to prosecution under Administrative Code Article 20.2.
In 2015, Forum 18 found 83 prosecutions of Jehovah's Witnesses (including two communities); 9 of Baptists; 9 of Hare Krishna devotees; 6 of members of Falun Gong; 4 of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormons) as part of the same case – which was dropped; 3 of Muslims; and 3 of Protestants. One individual was charged in connection with a Buddhist event. The religious affiliation of four defendants remains unknown.
Gender and geography of 2015 prosecutions
Of the 119 individuals known to have been prosecuted, 74 were women and 45 men.
Forum 18 found that prosecutions under Article 20.2 in 2015 took place in 38 of Russia's 83 regions (not counting Crimea and Sevastopol). The five regions which saw the highest numbers of cases were: Rostov (15), Primorye (11), Voronezh (8), North Ossetia-Alania (8), and Saratov (7).
In addition to the 122 prosecutions found by Forum 18, similar cases have been brought in Russian-annexed Crimea (see F18News 5 January 2016 http://www.forum18.org/
Article 20.2
Administrative Code Article 20.2 is linked to the Demonstrations Law and punishes the "violation of the established procedure for organising or conducting a gathering, meeting, demonstration, procession or picket". Its eight parts cover a variety of offences, but only Parts 1, 2, and 5 are known by Forum 18 to have been used against people who exercise freedom of religion or belief. These are also the most frequently used Parts in general (see Foum 18's general Russia religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/
As well as individuals promoting their religious beliefs, members of public associations and political parties (such as Communists marking Lenin's birthday), political demonstrators, and individuals protesting against social problems (such as rising utility costs or the introduction of new road tolls for lorry drivers) may also face charges under Article 20.2.
In total, 2015 saw 468 prosecutions under Article 20.2 for all types of public event and activity, of which just over a quarter (122 cases, 26 per cent) were brought against individual religious believers and communities. The highest proportion of religious cases came under Part 2, Forum 18 found, with more than a third (73 out of 217, 34 per cent) of these prosecutions involving the exercise of freedom of religion and belief in public space.
Most of these Part 2 prosecutions (55 out of 73) are based on a law enforcement interpretation of much outdoor religious activity as "picketing" (deemed unlawful if carried out by more than one person without notifying the authorities). Jehovah's Witnesses, upon whom the burden of such cases principally falls, do not consider their actions to be picketing, but "religious service" and therefore do not think to inform the authorities.
In 2015, Forum 18 found 73 prosecutions for religious activities under Part 2, 35 under Part 5, and 14 under Part 1. These were derived from a total of 80 separate investigations (50 under Part 2, 21 under Part 5, and 9 under Part 1), of which four resulted in charges under both Parts 2 and 5.
Article 20.2 Parts 1, 2 and 5
Parts 1 and 5 of Article 20.2 ("Violation of the established procedure for organising or conducting a gathering, meeting, demonstration, procession or picket") cover general violations of the Article and complement each other. Part 1 focuses on organisers, Part 2 on other participants. Conviction under Parts 1 and 5 brings a fine of 10,000 to 20,000 Roubles or compulsory labour (community service) for up to 40 hours. Officials of organisations may also receive a fine of 15,000 to 30,000 Roubles under Part 1, and organisations themselves may be fined 50,000 to 100,000 Roubles (see Foum 18's general Russia religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/
Part 2 specifically targets the organisation of events without formally notifying the authorities in advance. For individuals, this carries a fine of 20,000 to 30,000 Roubles, compulsory labour (community service) of up to 40 hours, or imprisonment for up to 10 days. Officials may be fined 20,000 to 40,000 Roubles, and organisations 70,000 to 100,000 Roubles (see Foum 18's general Russia religious freedom survey http://www.forum18.org/
These are substantial fines when compared with the average monthly wage in Russia (33,347 Roubles in November 2015) and particularly the average monthly pension (12,400 Roubles in 2015). Many of those prosecuted under Article 20.2 are elderly Jehovah's Witnesses who can ill afford to pay what may be twice their monthly income. In such cases, other members of the community often contribute towards the fine, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Judges sometimes acknowledge defendants' difficult financial position by reducing penalties for pensioners and the unemployed.
While the majority of convictions found by Forum 18 resulted in fines, two defendants were jailed and one was sentenced to community service.
Typical 2015 cases
Nikolai Kryukov and Dmitry Moskvichyov, Hare Krishna devotees, performed religious chants and handed out literature outside a shop in the centre of Magadan. Both were charged under Part 2 with holding a "group picket" without informing the authorities. They were detained for six days without an opportunity to organise proper legal support (see F18News 4 November 2015 http://www.forum18.org/
Jehovah's Witness V. Lubyagina was also convicted of holding an unlawful "group picket" for displaying literature on a stand at a town centre crossroads (her companion was not charged). Lubyagina was sentenced to 20 hours' "compulsory work" in light of her financial position, according to the verdict from Sovietsk City Court, Kaliningrad Region.
Prosecutions are usually initiated by the police and in some instances by prosecutors' offices. According to written verdicts, members of the public sometimes alert law enforcement officials to supposed "offences" upon seeing Jehovah's Witnesses or Baptists setting up literature stands in the street.
Other investigations are based on monitoring of "compliance with anti-extremism legislation" – if law enforcement agents find "extremist" literature, believers may also be taken to court under Article 20.29 ("Production or mass distribution of extremist materials") (see F18News 25 April 2016 http://www.forum18.org/
Jehovah's Witnesses Lyudmila Ponomarenko and N. Mironenko, for example, were fined at Prokhladnyy District Court in Kabardino-Balkariya for both unlawful "group picketing" and the distribution of "extremist literature" on the same day.
Confusion remains
Despite legal changes in 2012 and 2014 which give judges concrete grounds for dismissing cases in which police misapply the law, the situation remains confusing. In December 2012, responsding to an appeal by two Jehovah's Witnesses, the Constitutional Court ruled that notification of an event need only be submitted if the authorities are required to provide health and safety measures (see F18News 15 August 2013 <http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=1865>). The Religion Law was amended in 2014 to clarify in which places religious events may be freely held (see F18News 17 September 2015 http://www.forum18.org/
Despite these legal changes, police and prosecutors persist in bringing charges against individuals for publicly exercising freedom of religion and belief, often on a very small scale (see F18News 22 February 2016 http://www.forum18.org/
Also, different judges apply these changes inconsistently. This can result in conviction in one court and acquittal in another for identical offences.
For example, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Jehovah's Witnesses O. Kozlova and I. Parkhomuk were charged with unlawful picketing for standing with a literature stand outside a shop at the edge of a city square. Judge Nadezhda Tatun acquitted both of them at Central District Court on 16 December, citing the 2012 Constitutional Court ruling. V. Sharabanova and M. Zakhvatayeva, who also set up a stand with Jehovah's Witness literature at a bus station in Tulun in Irkutsk Region and were also charged with unlawful picketing, were convicted and each fined 20,000 Roubles (see F18News 22 February 2016 http://www.forum18.org/
Sometimes this inconsistency occurs even within the same case in the same court. Jehovah's Witnesses, O. Fioktistova and K. Tutinova, were charged with organising "a public religious event" aimed at the "popularisation of [Jehovah's Witness beliefs] among residents" without notifying the authorities in the city of Elista in the Kalmyk Republic. They too had displayed religious literature on a stand in a pedestrian zone. They were both tried under Article 20.2, Part 2, at Tulun City Court on the same day. While Judge Natalya Tsykalova acquitted Fioktistova, Judge Ilya Furmanov convicted Tutinova and fined her 20,000 Roubles (see F18News 4 November 2015 http://www.forum18.org/
In 2015, Forum 18 found six prosecutions (five for Jehovah's Witness events, one for a Protestant event) which should not have been initiated under the new amendments. All six involved religious services or meetings held in loaned or rented properties (a category added to the list of places where religious worship may be held without hindrance). All of the defendants were acquitted on the basis of the 2014 amendments.
The 2012 Constitutional Court ruling was invoked by Judge Natalya Mashkina of the Supreme Court of the Udmurt Republic when she overturned the 70,000 Rouble fine imposed on the Society for Krishna Consciousness of Izhevsk for holding an "unauthorised" procession. In her verdict, she ruled that the local administration had not shown that notification was required at all. The event's alleged organiser, Aleksandr Korepanov, had, however, already been convicted for the alleged violation in July 2015. This indicates that it is possible for both organisations and individual organisers to be charged for the same offence – and face different outcomes.
A clear discrepancy also exists between how religious adherents themselves view their public activity (as "meetings for worship or other religious purposes") and how law enforcement agencies perceive it (as "public events" on a par with political demonstrations, most often as picketing) (see F18News 22 February 2016 http://www.forum18.org/
Finally, legislation still does not explicitly address the conduct of public religious activities which are not "worship rites or ceremonies" (such as handing out religious literature or discussing beliefs in public places). This leaves a grey area of public space in which religious events are neither freely permitted nor expressly forbidden. This puts the onus on individuals themselves to determine whether or not it is necessary to notify the authorities of an event (see F18News 22 February 2016 http://www.forum18.org/
Lengthy proceedings and legal challenges from both sides
Seventy-eight of the 122 verdicts found by Forum 18 were challenged in higher courts, including 10 attempts by the prosecution to appeal against acquittals. Ten fines were overturned as a result, and seven of the challenged acquittals were upheld. Appeal judges also returned 6 cases to their original courts for re-examination (3 after appeals by the defence, 3 after appeals by the prosecution), leading to 3 fresh convictions (after initial acquittals) and 2 eventual acquittals (after initial convictions).
With their potential for large fines, the likelihood that police or prosecutors will challenge acquittals, and the possibility that appeals at the regional/republic level will result in re-trials, cases under Administrative Code Article 20.2 place a heavy burden on defendants in terms of time, energy, and money – even if they are ultimately exonerated.
Defendants can become caught up in a cycle of appeals and re-trials for months on end. E. Rogachyov, a Baptist charged with "picketing" near a school in Rostov, endured some eight months of proceedings before losing his final appeal in January 2016. Rogachyov and two companions, N. Kirillov and L. Leyn, were originally acquitted by the city's Proletarian District Court in June 2015 (see F18News 4 November 2015 http://www.forum18.org/
CASE LISTING
Known 2015 Article 20.2, Part 1 Cases
1. 16 February
Name: Yelena Romanova
Fine: 5000 Roubles
Court: Frunze District Court, Saratov
Situation: charged with holding one-person picket without the "distinguishing sign of the organiser" of a public event; displayed Jehovah's Witness literature on a stand in the street
Appeal: unsuccessful – 29 April 2015, Saratov Regional Court
2. 3 March
Name: Valentina Brezgunova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Lenin District Court, Smolensk
Situation: charged with holding picket with less than 50 metres between participants; with one other Baptist, distributed religious literature from a table in a park and spoke to interested passers-by; judge concluded action was not a picket
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful – 5 May 2015, Smolensk Regional Court
3. 16 April
Name: A.N. Korolyov
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Industrial District Court, Smolensk
Situation: charged with violating procedure for picketing by standing less than 50 metres away from two other members of the Evangelical "Nehemiah" Church; defendant held placard saying "God exists" and was carrying church flyers; judge concludes that there is insufficient evidence
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful – 9 June 2015, Smolensk Regional Court
4. 22 May
Name: Antonina Kookuyeva
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Elista City Court, Kalymikiya
Situation: leader of local Society of Friends of Tibet charged with conducting a procession from the city's Buddha statue to a nearby temple and back again after a public prayer meeting (distance of less than 100 metres), not in accordance with submitted notification of event, which was for a prayer meeting only
Appeal: none
5. 20 October
Name: A.E. Baranov
Fine: 5000 Roubles
Court: Rtishchevo District Court, Saratov Region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with organising "picket" with T.V. Kutukova (see below) outside a shop, with the use of "visual agitation" and free religious literature on a stand, at which he wore no identifying sign as organiser and did not notify authorities; appeal judge concluded there was no evidence provided that Baranov was the organiser; mentions lack of notification but acknowledges that this falls under Part 2 and judge has no right to discuss it in this hearing
Appeal: successful – 12 January 2016, Saratov Regional Court
6. 21 October
Name: T.V. Kutukova
Fine: 5000 Roubles
Court: Rtishchevo District Court, Saratov Region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with organising "picket" with A.E. Baranov (see above) outside a shop, with the use of "visual agitation" and free religious literature on a stand, at which she wore no identifying sign as organiser and did not notify authorities; argued that she was "not the organiser of a picket, but a participant in religious service"
Appeal: successful – 12 January 2016, Saratov Regional Court
7. 26 October
Name: A.P. Chikunova (Bakhtarova)
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Saratov
Situation: charged with distributing "agitational material about Evangelical Christians Baptists" in Victory Square, ie. New Testament and Psalms, without notification (no mention of any other violation) – need for this stressed by citing previous rulings
Appeal: none
8. 27 October
Name: S.M. Pelmeneva
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Mirnyy District Court, Sakha Republic
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with violating the rules of a one-person picket by standing with another person (N.A. Gorbunova – see below) and not submitting notification; argued that it was not a picket, but "religious service" in the form of distribution of religious literature from trolley to interested passers-by
Appeal: unsuccessful – 9 February 2016, Supreme Court of the Sakha Republic
9. 27 October
Name: N.A. Gorbunova
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Mirnyy District Court, Sakha Republic
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with violating the rules of a one-person picket by standing with another person (S.M. Pelmeneva – see above) and not submitting notification; argued that it was not a picket, but "religious service" in the form of distribution of religious literature from trolley to interested passers-by
Appeal: unsuccessful – 9 February 2016, Supreme Court of the Sakha Republic
10. 9 November
Name: D.N. Faleytor
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Saratov
Situation: member of "Evangelical Christians – Baptists" charged with holding one-person picket without organiser's identifying sign; used "visual agitation" and free religious literature to inform passers-by of beliefs and church activities
Appeal: none
11. 19 November
Name: D.D. Foot
Fine: none – article not applicable
Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan
Situation: US citizen charged with organising Mormon gathering on university premises (hostel) – violated 2012 Education Law which bans the creation and activities of religious organisations in state and municipal educational institutions; lawyer argued that he did not, and that Administrative Code does not provide for punishment of those doing so; judge agrees that he violated law on religious organisations in educational institutions, but that this does not constitute a public event, so cannot fall under Article 20.2, Part 1
Appeal: none
12. 20 November
Name: S.K. Watterson
Fine: none – article not applicable
Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan
Situation: US Mormon, as above
Appeal: none
13. 20 November
Name: D.T. Ryde
Fine: none &ndasndash; article not applicable
Court: Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan
Situation: US Mormon, as above
Appeal: none
14. 20 November
Name: R.N. Randall
Fine: none – article not applicable
Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan
Situation: US Mormon, as above
Appeal: none
Known 2015 Article 20.2, Part 2 Cases
1. 22 January
Name: Viktor Pechkurov
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Smolensk
Situation: with three fellow Baptists, distributed religious literature in a public garden as par of a "mobile Christian library service" and was charged with holding an unlawful "picket" with less than 50 metres between participants – judge concluded notification was necessary, despite defendant's argument that the event was not a picket; police alerted by anonymous caller warning of "sectarians" in the park
Appeal: successful – Smolensk Regional Court, 24 February 2015
2. 11 February
Name: A.V. Tushin
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Ivanovo
Situation: defendant charged with organising "group picket" of three people (no evidence of charges against other two) outside a shopping centre, using a wheeled stand displaying Jehovah's Witness literature; defendant claimed he was neither organiser nor participant, but had come across his fellow congregants by chance, and that "the dissemination of religious views by offering biblical literature with the aid of a wheeled stand does not correspond to the concept of a public event, and notification of authorities is not required"; police alerted by passer-by who had been given literature; the two women do not appear to have been charged
Appeal: unsuccessful – 9 April 2015, Ivanovo Regional Court
3. 18 February
Name: L.I. Asatryan
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Magadan City Court
Situation: defendant set up folding table with free religious literature in public garden – court interpreted this as picket, but judge concluded there was no evidence the defendant had organised and conducted the "event" together with another person ("Sh."), who denied participating
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful – 9 April 2015, Magadan Regional Court
4. 26 February
Name: Liliya Vorobyova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Teykovo District Court, Ivanovo Region
Situation: defendant charged with holding "street religious activity in the form of a public religious service" (with Kulikova – see below) at the entrance to a market and acquainting passers-by with Jehovah's Witness beliefs by means of "group picketing" with another woman, ie. displaying brochures and leaflets on an information stand ("visual agitation") – judge concludes that defendant was only conversing with fellow Jehovah's Witness in passing
Appeal: none
5. 10 March
Name: G.V. Kulikova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Teykovo District Court, Ivanovo Region
Situation: defendant charged with holding "street religious activity in the form of a public religious service" (with Vorobyova – see above) at the entrance to a market and acquainting passers-by with Jehovah's Witness beliefs by means of "group picketing" with another woman, ie. displaying brochures and leaflets on an information stand ("visual agitation")
Appeal: unsuccessful – 7 May 2015, Ivanovo Regional Court
6. 13 March
Name: T.M Khalina
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Birobidzhan District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region
Situation: charged with using an information stand in a in pedestrian zone to distribute Jehovah's Witness literature, in a place "not intended for public religious events"; the defendant "openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, and created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there"
Appeal: successful – 22 April 2015, Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region; prosecutor's protest against overturning of verdict unsuccessful – 13 July 2015, Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region
7. 17 March
Name: G.V. Makarova
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Staraya Russa District Court, Novgorod Region
Situation: display of Jehovah's Witness literature on information stand with G.I. Maksimova (see below) interpreted as picket; sentenced to half of minimum fine on account of age and financial situation
Appeal: unsuccessful – 13 April 2015, Novgorod Regional Court
8. 17 March
Name: G.I. Maksimova
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Staraya Russa District Court, Novgorod Region
Situation: display of Jehovah's Witness literature on information stand with G.V. Makarova (see below) interpreted as picket; sentenced to half of minimum fine on account of age and financial situation
Appeal: unsuccessful – 13 April 2015, Novgorod Regional Court
9. 25 March
Name: Pavel Novikov
Fine: 20,000
Court: Railway District Court, Oryol
Situation: Evangelical Christian-Baptist charged with organising a public worship service, attended by about 30 people in a playground in the yard of a block of flats – claimed he was not the organiser but joined the event in passing, there was no violation of public order, and no citizens present were offended or complained; fellow Baptists testified in court that he was not the organiser, but that the event had taken place spontaneously – police officers (summoned by the janitor to a "conflict situation") testified otherwise
Appeal: unsuccessful – 24 April 2015, Oryol Regional Court
10. 25 March
Name: I.V. Zebreva
Fine: unknown
Court: Novocherkassk City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: charged with unlawful group picketing; witness claimed that, with another woman, the defendant stood outside a shopping centre offering Jehovah's Witness literature and invited him to a church service; defendant claimed that she had not pursued "any of the aims of a public event"; judge cites December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling but concludes that it does not apply to this case because the "event" was "conducted in a public place (the street)"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 18 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court
11. 27 March
Name: M.S. Churkina
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Railway District Court, Rostov-on-Don
Situation: with Yu. S. Svetlakova (see below), charged with unlawful "group picketing" for using information stand to display Jehovah's Witness literature in a pedestrian alleyway
Appeal: unsuccessful – 6 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court
12. 27 March
Name: Yu. S. Svetlakova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Railway District Court, Rostov-on-Don
Situation: with M.S. Churkina (see above), charged with unlawful "group picketing" for using information stand to display Jehovah's Witness literature in a pedestrian alleyway
Appeal: unsuccessful – 6 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court
13. 1 April
Name: I.I. Kolchyova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Soviet District Court, Krasnodar
Situation: charged with holding picket near a pedestrian underpass at crossroads for displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on a stand; judge concludes that there is no evidence that this constituted a picket
Appeal: none
14. 10 April
Name: Yevgeny Galitsky
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: October District Court, Orsk, Orenburg Region
Situation: held a Protestant gathering on the theme "Life after life. The secret of saving your soul" in accommodation rented for the purpose, at which "the free expression and formation of opinion on the question of the meaning of religion and the Lord God in human life" took place; judge concludes that this did not threaten national security or require health and safety measures
Appeal: none
15. 21 April
Name: B.V. Bezdenezhnykh
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Yoshkar-Ola City Court, Mari- El Republic
Situation: charged with "unsanctioned group picketing...aimed at the dissemination and popularisation of his beliefs among the population"; with fellow Jehovah's Witness Medvedkov (see below), defendant was sitting beside an information stand with religious literature
Appeal: reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles – 22 June 2015, Supreme Court of the Mari-El Republic
16. 22 April
Name: A.S. Yevdokimova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Soviet District Court, Krasnodar
Situation: for distribution of Jehovah's Witness literature, charged with holding picket near pedestrian underpass at crossroads in Krasnodar; judge concludes that "in the case materials there is no evidence that the purpose of A.S. Yevdokimova's action was the formation of any kind of opinion or the making of demands on various political, economic, social and cultural issues in the country" and therefore it was not a picket
Appeal: none
17. 27 April
Name: A.G. Medvedkov
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Yoshkar-Ola City Court, Mari-El Republic
Situation: charged with "unsanctioned group picketing...aimed at the dissemination and popularisation of his beliefs among the population"; with fellow Jehovah's Witness, Bezdenezhnykh (see above), defendant was sitting beside an information stand with religious literature
Appeal: reclassified as Part 5 and fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles – 24 June 2015, Supreme Court of the Mari-El Republic
18. 27 April
Name: Ye. I. Tisenkov
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Gai City Court, Orenburg Region
Situation: charged with organising a public religious event – Jehovah's Witness "Evening of Remembrance of the Death of Christ" – in rented accommodation without notifying the authorities; judge cites December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and concludes no notification required
Appeal: by prosecution, unsuccessful – 19 June 2015, Orenburg Regional Court
19. 8 May
Name: Jehovah's Witness community "South, Abakan"
Fine: 70,000
Court: Abakan City Court, Republic of Khakassiya
Situation: distribution of literature at bus stop outside station, "of a picket-like character; "to draw attention to particular issues of a religious nature, [they] publicly expressed opinions about the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, with the use of visual aids: posters, banners, with inscriptions"; "openly demonstrating their religious beliefs in a place providing for the massive presence of people – created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 1 July, Supreme Court of the Khakassiya Republic
20. 13 May
Name: O.Sh. Tretyakova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: October District Court, Arkhangelsk
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with "group picketing" without notification for displaying religious literature on a stand in the street – accosted by police while speaking to acquaintance Golovenkin (see below); points out that "religious service" is not related to public events and requires no notice to be given; judge concludes that there is no evidence for a group picket
Appeal: none
21. 14 May
Name: A. Yu. Golovenkin
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: October District Court, Arkhangelsk
Situation: charged with "group picketing" without notification, but claims he only stopped in by chance on seeing his fellow Jehovah's Witness O.Sh. Tretyakova, who was displaying religious literature on a stand in the street; also points out that "religious service" is not related to public events and requires no notice to be given; judge concludes that defendant bore no responsibility for the "event"
Appeal: none
22. 20 May
Name: Z.U. Khamitzayeva
Fine: unknown
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz, Judge Zaurbek Tsagolov
Situation: charged with unlawful "group picket" for distributing Jehovah's Witness literature from information stand at public transport stop – with S.N. Khuadonova (see below)
Appeal: successful – 25 June, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
23. 26 May
Name: A.V. Neyfeld
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Tomsk, Judge R.A. Zaynulin
Situation: charged with organising groups of 2-3 Baptists who handed out New Testaments and psalters to interested passers-by in New Cathedral Square in Tomsk; interpreted as pickets involving more than one person and fewer than 30 metres apart
Appeal: none
24. 1 June
Name: A.A. Aliyev
Fine: unknown
Court: Birobidzhan District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region
Situation: charged with organising Jehovah's Witness worship meeting in restaurant without notification
Appeal: successful – 17 July, Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region
25. 2 June
Name: S.N. Khuadonova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: charged with unlawful "group picket" for distributing Jehovah's Witness literature from information stand at public transport stop – with Z.U Khamitzayeva (see above)
Appeal: unsuccessful, 23 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
26. 2 June
Name: A.G. Avakimova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: charged with distributing Jehovah's Witness literature with M.N. Meladze (see below), from information stand at public transport stop; interpreted as picket
Appeal: unsuccessful, 23 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
27. 4 June
Name: M.N. Meladze
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: charged with unlawful "group picket" for distributing Jehovah's Witness literature from information stand at public transport stop (with A.G. Avakimova – see above)
Appeal: unsuccessful – 23 July 2015, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
28. 5 June
Name: N.V. Morozova
Fine: unknown amount
Court: Volgodonsk District Court, Rostov Region
Situation: with T.N. Lyashenko (see below), used two wheeled information stands to display Jehovah's Witness literature in a public garden outside a hotel; interpreted as picket despite lawyer's arguments to the contrary (no "object" being picketed, no relation between message and "object"); local resident called prosecutor's office with an anonymous tip-off
Appeal: unsuccessful – 27 July, Rostov Regional Court
29. 8 June
Name: T.N. Lyashenko
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Volgodonsk District Court, Rostov Region
Situation: with N.V. Morozova (see above), used two wheeled information stands to display Jehovah's Witness literature in a public garden outside a hotel; interpreted as picket despite lawyer's arguments to the contrary (no "object" being picketed, no relation between message and "object"); local resident called prosecutor's office with an anonymous tip-off
Appeal: case returned for re-examination because fine imposed not allowed under Part 2 – 14 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted again on retrial and fined 20,000 Roubles – 29 July 2015, Volgodonsk District Court; subsequent appeal unsuccessful – 28 September 2015
30. 8 June
Name: D. D. Tissen
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Tashla District Court, Orenburg region, Judge Ye. G. Porotko
Situation: group of seven German citizens with "an non-traditional doctrine of God" sang hymns, gave sermons, read poetry and handed out literature outside mobile phone shop after registering at local migration office; purpose of visit was to proselytise; Tissen had helped them with their documents but was not a member of the group; judge concluded that actions did not constitute a demonstration
Appeal: none
31. 24 June
Name: Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Factory District Court, Oryol, Judge Yelena Yendovitskaya
Situation: held service for 2100 people in rented accommodation at shopping and leisure centre; event held on yearly basis with no threat to public order; judge acknowledges 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and October 2014 amendments in deciding the event required no notification
Appeal: none
32. 29 June
Name: S.L. Yerkin
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Magadan City Court
Situation: held Jehovah's Witness event "Evening of Remembrance of the Death of Jesus Christ" in non-residential property with no notification; did not identify himself visibly as organiser; argued that event did not inconvenience local population as was held indoors in non-residential property; judge acknowledges 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and October 2014 amendments
Appeal: by police, unsuccessfully; 6 August, Magadan Regional Court
33. 1 July
Name: K.O. Tutinova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Elista City Court, Kalmykiya
Situation: with Fioktistova (see below), held a "public worship service" aimed at the popularisation of Jehovah's Witness beliefs using an information stand to display religious literature in a pedestrian zone; police took both women and four passers-by for questioning at police station; defendant "demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which, considering the mass presence of people, she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens"
Appeal: successful – 4 August, Supreme Court of Kalmykiya
34. 1 July
Name: O.A. Fioktistova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Elista City Court, Kalmykiya
Situation: with Tutinova (see above), Jehovah's Witness charged with organising "public worship", "as well as actions to inform the public and passers-by of features of the faith...using a metal luggage cart equipped with a stand"; defendant claimed that she was simply offering literature and answering questions from interested passers-by, not holding a public event; judge acknowledges 2012 Constitutional Court ruling: "The mere fact that O.A. Fioktistova was spreading her religious beliefs by offering free non-prohibited Bible literature...by purpose, form and procedure does not correspond to the concept of a public event"
Appeal: by local Justice Ministry department, unsuccessful – 4 August, Supreme Court of Republic of Kalmykiya
35. 8 July
Name: Aleksandr Korepanov
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Mozhga District Court, Udmurtiya
Situation: charged with organising a Society for Krishna Consciousness procession without notification (same incident as 9 November case below); defendant claimed he was not the organiser and that the procession was a "simultaneous mass movement of citizens in a public place", not a "public event", as it consisted of the chanting of mantras and Indian dance, not expression of political/social opinions or demands
Appeal: none
36. 10 July
Name: O.A. Bokova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Ryazan
Situation: with fellow Jehovah's Witness T.V. Son, charged with holding a "picket" at a public transport stop, ie. used information stand to display brochures; defendant argued that since her actions did not constitute a public event she was not obliged to inform the authorities; judge concluded that she "openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, by which she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there"
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to 5000 Roubles, 6 August, Ryazan Regional Court
37. 9 July
Name: T.V. Son
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Ryazan
Situation: with fellow Jehovah's Witness O.A. Bokova, charged with holding a "picket" at a public transport stop, ie. used information stand to display brochures; defendant argued that since her actions did not constitute a public event she was not obliged to inform the authorities; judge concluded she "openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, by which she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there"
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to 5000 Roubles – 27 August 2015, Ryazan Regional Court
38. 24 July
Name: T.V. Ganzha
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Industrial District Court, Perm, Judge Aleksandr Basev
Situation: charged with organising "picket" without notification, ie. distribution of Jehovah's Witness literature with a companion (Olga Belokon – see Part 5 list), "in a public place not for public religious activities, at an underpass – that is, openly demonstrating their religious beliefs in a place providing for the massive presence of people – created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 2 September, Perm Regional Court, Judge Viktor Nyashin
39. 3 August
Name: Dmitry Moskvichyov
Fine: none – 6 days' detention
Court: Magadan City Court
Situation: charged (with Kryukov – see below) with organising a "group picket" of five people outside a city centre shop – they performed religious chants, played Indian instruments, and handed out Society for Krishna Consciousness literature to passers-by
Appeal: none
40. 3 August
Name: Nikolai Kryukov
Fine: none – 6 days' detention
Court: Magadan City Court
Situation: charged (with Moskvichyov – see above) with organising a "group picket" of five people outside a city centre shop – they performed religious chants, played Indian instruments, and handed out Society for Krishna Consciousness literature to passers-by
Appeal: none
41. 11 August
Name: A.A. Aliyev, chair of Jehovah's Witnesses of Birobidzhan
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Birobidzhan District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region
Situation: organised public worship service at "Builder" sports complex in city park without notification; Aliyev denied being the organiser, but also pointed out that the event presented no danger to public order or health and safety as it took place in closed premises rented for the purpose; member of the public reported unattended bag to police and security forces and firefighters were called; judge cites amendment of 22 October 2014 and 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and concludes that no offence was committed
Appeal: none
42. 17 August
Name: S.M. Kiselyova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Khamovnichesky District Court, Moscow
Situation: charged with organising unlawful "group picket" of Falun Gong adherents, protesting against persecution of Falun Gong in China; defendant claimed that her acquaintance had passed by chance and only helped her put up a banner
Appeal: unsuccessful – 8 October 2015, Moscow City Court
43. 18 August
Name: Ahmed Tahrir Hefdi
Fine: none – on account of insignificance of the offence
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh
Situation: held public worship service (Islamic namaz) involving 35 people without notifying the authorities – defendant explained that hall of residence where they usually prayed was undergoing cleaning, and argued that prayers had taken place behind a cafe in an otherwise deserted spot, disturbing nobody – found guilty but not fined because of repentance and minor nature of the offence
Appeal: none
44. 18 August
Name: Wamid Tahrir Hefdi
Fine: none – on account of insignificance of the offence
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh
Situation: held public worship service (Islamic namaz) involving 35 people without notifying the authorities – defendant explained that hall of residence where they usually prayed was undergoing cleaning, and argued that prayers had taken place behind a cafe in an otherwise deserted spot, disturbing nobody – found guilty but not fined because of repentance and minor nature of the offence
Appeal: none
45. 18 August
Name: M.T. Popov
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: October District Court, Rostov-on-Don
Situation: charged with organising unlawful "group picket" with amplification equipment, "religious paraphernalia" and the distribution of religious literature; involved 15 people from the Don Society of Krishna Consciousness
Appeal: unsuccessful – 7 October, Rostov Regional Court
46. 24 August
Name: N.V. Lai
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladivostok
Situation: Falun Gong adherent conducted single-person picket at submarine memorial (in separate incident from those below) using amplification equipment and Chinese-language placards; judge held that she should have submitted notification – appeal judge rules that notification was not required, but use of amplification was unlawful
Appeal: reclassified as Part 1 and fine reduced, Primorye Regional Court; supervisory appeal submitted to Primorye Regional Court on 19 April 2016 – no hearing date set
47. 24 August
Name: N.V. Lai
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladivostok
Situation: Falun Gong adherent charged with holding unlawful "group picket" at submarine memorial "with the use of visual agitation, leaflets, megaphones, and placards in a foreign language" to inform Chinese tourists of the persecution of the Falun Gong movement in China; defendant claimed she thought notification was unnecessary because materials were in Chinese and she and her companion (R.A. Kan – see below) were standing separately – judge concluded that use of amplification was also a violation of the Demonstrations Law
Appeal: unsuccessful – Primorye Regional Court; supervisory appeal submitted to Primorye Regional Court on 19 April 2016 – no hearing date set
48. 24 August
Name: R.A. Kan
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladivostok
Situation: Falun Gong adherent charged with holding unlawful "group picket" at submarine memorial "with the use of visual agitation, leaflets, megaphones, and placards in a foreign language" to inform Chinese tourists of the persecution of the Falun Gong movement in China; defendant claimed she thought notification was unnecessary because materials were in Chinese and she and her companion (N.V. Lai – see above) were standing separately – judge concluded that use of amplification was also a violation of the Demonstrations Law
Appeal: unsuccessful, but fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles, Primorye Regional Court; supervisory appeal submitted to Primorye Regional Court on 19 April 2016 – no hearing date set
49. 27 August
Name: T.I. Gogoleva
Fine: unknown
Court: Lenin District Court, Voronezh
Situation: charged with holding an unlawful "group picket" (with K.V Lukina – see below) for using information stand to display Jehovah's Witness literature "in a public place"
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to unknown amount – 21 October 2015, Voronezh Regional Court
50. 27 August
Name: K.V. Lukina
Fine: unknown
Court: Lenin District Court, Voronezh
Situation: charged with holding an unlawful "group picket" (with T.I. Gogoleva – see above) for using information stand to display Jehovah's Witness literature "in a public place"
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to unknown amount – 21 October 2015, Voronezh Regional Court
51. 3 September
Name: L.A. Chernova
Fine: 10,000
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh
Situation: charged with holding unlawful "group picket" with fellow Jehovah's Witness (A.A. Yagodnitsina – see below), ie. used information stand to display free religious literature, "in a public place, not intended for public religious events"; defendant "openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place, where the mass presence of people may be envisaged, thereby creating a risk of disturbance to public order associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens"
Appeal: unsuccessful but reclassified from Part 2 to Part 5 and fine reduced to 5000 Roubles – 3 November 2015, Voronezh Regional Court
52. 8 September
Name: A.V. Dryannikh
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Kirov District Court, Krasnoyarsk
Situation: with G.N. Konina (who was not charged), distributed Jehovah's Witness literature and CDs from stand at bus stop – interpreted by police as unsanctioned picket; judge concluded that "There are no evidence in the materials of the case that A.V. Dryannikh conducted a public event, that is, expressed and formed opinions or made demands on various issues of political, economic, social and cultural life of the country or foreign policy issues, within the scope of the Demonstrations Law"
Appeal: none
53. 14 September
Name: G.D. Malyukova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Syzran City Court, Samara region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness (with T.D. Artyukhina – see below), distributed free religious literature from wheeled stand – did not seek "permission" because it was not a picket; judge concluded that "Since the purpose of picketing, within the meaning of the law, is to draw attention to the picketed object, or to a particular problem, the actions of citizen Malyukova .. trying to attract the attention of the public by means of visual agitation, are a public event - a picket"
Appeal: reclassified as Part 5 and fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles – 8 December, Samara Regional Court
54. 17 September
Name: S.A. Lashko
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Kuibyshev District Court, Omsk
Situation: with fellow Jehovah's Witness I.V. Korobelnikova (see below), used an information stand to display religious literature at a city centre bus stop and answered questions from passers-by; judge interpreted this as an unlawful "group picket"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 13 October, Omsk Regional Court; unsuccessful supervisory appeal – 26 January 2016, Omsk Regional Court
55. 21 September
Name: G.N. Kalasheva
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Kominternovsky District Court, Voronezh
Situation: Jehovah's Witness "expressed her opinion...using an information stand with the inscriptions ‘What does the Bible teach?' and ‘Take for free, read in your own language'" and handed out literature and answered questions from passers-by – interpreted as picket; judge concludes that Fedosov was alone and therefore not breaking the law (though police claimed she was with Lyudmila Dolgova – see below)
Appeal: by anti-extremism police, unsuccessful – 11 November, Voronezh Regional Court
56. 21 September
Name: Lyudmila Dolgova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Kominternovsky District Court, Voronezh
Situation: Jehovah's Witness "expressed her opinion...using an information stand with the inscriptions ‘What does the Bible teach?' and ‘Take for free, read in your own language'" and handed out literature and answered questions from passers-by – interpreted as picket; judge concludes that Dolgova was alone and therefore not breaking the law (though police claimed she was with G.N. Kalasheva – see above)
Appeal: anti-extremism police appeal unsuccessful – 11 November, Voronezh Regional Court
57. 23 September
Name: T.D. Artyukhina
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Syzran City Court, Samara region, Judge E.N. Kosmina
Situation: Jehovah's Witness (with G.D. Malyukova – see above) distributed free religious literature from wheeled stand – did not seek "permission" because it was not a picket; judge concluded that "Since the purpose of picketing, within the meaning of the law, is to draw attention to the picketed object, or to a particular problem, the actions of citizen Artyukhina...trying to attract the attention of the public by means of visual agitation, are a public event - a picket"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 24 November, Samara Regional Court
58. 23 September
Name: M.V. Zakhvatayeva
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Tulun City Court, Irkutsk region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness (with V.V. Sharabanova – see below), set up information stand with religious literature and slogan "Is the end of suffering coming?" at bus station; defendant asked to have the hearing postponed in order to arrange legal assistance and because she felt unwell, since she was still in shock – this was refused as court considered enough time had been available, from 8pm on 22 September to 2pm on 23 September; judge concluded that "Since the purpose of picketing, within the meaning of the law, is to draw attention to the picketed object, or to a particular problem, M.V. Zakhvatayeva's actions, trying to attract the attention of the public by means of visual agitation, are public event - a picket"; and that "the open demonstration of religious beliefs may annoy or give offense to those who profess a different religion or no religion, and if taking place outwith religious buildings or structures or specially designated places or premises, certain religious activities, by virtue of their mass nature – may prevent the normal operation of transport or public or non-governmental organizations"; "picket" held in an area of "intensive movement of pedestrians and traffic, which created danger to public order"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 18 November, Irkutsk Regional Court
59. 24 September
Name: V.V. Sharabanova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Tulun City Court, Irkutsk Region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with holding an unlawful "group picket" by displaying literature on a stand at a bus station (with M.V. Zakhvatayeva – see above)
Appeal: unsuccessful – 18 November, Irkutsk Regional Court
60. 24 September
Name: A.A. Yagodnitsina
Fine: 10,000
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh
Situation: charged with holding unlawful "group picket" with fellow Jehovah's Witness (L.A. Chernova – see above), ie. used information stand to display free religious literature, "in a public place, not intended for public religious events"; defendant "openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place, where the mass presence of people may be envisaged, thereby creating a risk of disturbance to public order associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens"
Appeal: unsuccessful but reclassified from Part 2 to Part 5, 17 November – Voronezh Regional Court
61. 12 October
Name: I.V. Korobelnikova
Fine: none – acquitted (but convicted and fined 20,000 Roubles on retrial – see below)
Court: Kuibyshev District Court, Omsk
Situation: with fellow Jehovah's Witness S.A. Lashko (see above), used an information stand to display religious literature at a city centre bus stop and answered questions from passers-by; original judge (different from Lashko's) concluded that this constituted a "religious service" and thus did not require notification – retrial judge interpreted defendant's actions as an unlawful "group picket", as she "expressed her opinion with an information stand, upon which were placed religious pamphlets, ie. openly showed her religious beliefs in a place at which the mass presence of a wide range of people may be envisaged, which requires proper supervision by the public authorities...since, under certain circumstances, regardless of the intentions of organisers and participants, the potential risk of disturbance of public order, and, consequently, damage to the moral and physical health of citizens cannot be ruled out"
Appeal: police appeal against acquittal successful; case sent for re-examination – 10 November 2015, Omsk Regional Court; defendant convicted on re-trial – 4 December 2015, Kuibyshev District Court; defendant's subsequent appeal unsuccessful – 29 December 2015, Omsk Regional Court
62. 13 October
Name: R. S-E. Khaduyev, Sakhalinsk Community of Muslims
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court, Sakhalin
Situation: charged with organising a public religious service, involving 120 people, without notifying the authorities; according to police, this presented "the possibility of danger to public order, morality and health, both for the participants in religious activities, as well as third parties, requiring public authorities take measures to ensure public order, public safety and tranquility"; judge concluded that the absence of a clear description of the offence in the police report violated the accused's right to a defence
Appeal: none
63. 19 October
Name: Guzel(?) Abliksanova
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Berezovsky District Court, Krasnoyarsk Region
Situation: charged with organising an unlawful picket at a railway crossing by unspecified church group, using the slogan "Be good to people"; event involved five people (about ten were invited by SMS); defendant claimed she did not know notification was necessary; judge reduced fine because of defendant's character, remorse, and financial position; also absence of negative consequences)
Appeal: none
64. 23 October
Name: A.E. Kalashnikov
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Kameshkovo District Court, Vladimir region
Situation: rented local House of Culture for Jehovah's Witness service; judge concluded that "The need to notify the competent public authorities or local authorities of such public religious activities and carry out other encumbrances established by legislation, by reason of the mere fact that the meeting is occurring outside places designated for the purpose, is illegal interference of the state in the sphere of freedom of conscience" – and cites October 2014 amendment to Religion Law on the free conduct of religious ceremonies in premises rented for the purpose, and December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling
Appeal: none
65. 9 November
Name: Society of Krishna Consciousness of Izhevsk
Fine: 70,000
Court: Mozhga District Court, Udmurt Republic
Situation: Society for Krishna Consciousness charged with holding a procession without notification of the authorities (they had submitted notification only for Indian dance and singing with minimal amplification); case originally heard on 5 August at Industrial District Court, Izhevsk – this was overturned on 7 October by the Supreme Court of the Udmurt Republic for jurisdictional regions and sent for examination by a different court; alleged organiser Aleksandr Korepanov already convicted on 8 July (see above)
Appeal: successful – 8 February 2016, Supreme Court of the Udmurt Republic
66. 9 November
Name: V.V. Lubyagina
Fine: 20 hours' community service
Court: Sovietsk City Court, Kaliningrad Region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness; organised "street religious activity" with one other person (who was not charged) at a crossroads, using stand with religious literature; interpreted as group picket without notification
Appeal: unsuccessful – 24 December, Kaliningrad Regional Court
67. 12 November
Name: V.Ya. Shestakova
Fine: 20,000 Roubles
Court: Gukovo City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: with three fellow Jehovah's Witnesses (P.A. Petrova, A.I. Osychenko, L.V.Bosova – no evidence of charges against these people) used information stand to distribute literature in public place, interpreted as "group picket"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 27 January 2016, Rostov Regional Court
68. 23 November
Name: S.V. Safiyulin
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Central District Court, Tolyatti, Samara Region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness accused of holding unsanctioned picket for handing out literature from information stand and answering questions from passers-by; judge concludes this does not qualify as a public event under the definitions provided in law
Appeal: none
69. 8 December
Name: L.V. Klimenko
Fine: 10,000 Roubles (reduced because first-time offence and "given the nature and degree of public danger of the offence committed)
Court: Shakhty City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: as part of anti-extremism monitoring, two Jehovah's Witnesses charged with holding unlawful "group picket" for distributing literature from information stand outside park entrance; defendant claimed that she was photographed with L.G. Suleva (see below) only by chance as they spoke in passing, standing opposite each other – defendant had another stand on the opposite side of the street
Appeal: unsuccessful, 23 March 2016, Rostov Regional Court
70. 8 December
Name: L.G. Suleva
Fine: 10,000 Roubles (reduced because first-time offence and "given the nature and degree of public danger of the offence committed")
Court: Shakhty City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: as part of anti-extremism monitoring, two Jehovah's Witnesses charged with holding unsanctioned picket for distributing literature from information stand outside park entrance; defendant claimed she was there alone and was photographed with L.V. Klimenko only by chance as they spoke in passing, standing opposite each other – Klimenko had another stand on the opposite side of the street; Suleva's claim that she gave evidence to prosecutors under pressure deemed "far-fetched and unfounded", and the fact that she refused to sign her statements deemed not to invalidate their contents, as she made them in the presence of witnesses
Appeal: unsuccessful, 15 March 2016, Rostov Regional Court
71. 16 December
Name: O.V. Kozlova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Central District Court, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Region
Situation: charged with holding unlawful "group picket" outside shop with fellow Jehovah's Witnesses (I.V. Parkhomuk – see below), "the purpose of which was the formation of opinion and expression of religious orientation" with use of "graphic materials"; defendant claimed they answered questions from passers-by who approached of their own accord and caused no disturbance of public order or blocking of right of way; detained by police after a woman photographed them; judge concluded that "The need to notify the competent public authorities of such public religious activities and carry out other obligations established by legislation, on the strength of the mere fact that the meeting is occurring outside places designated for the purpose, is illegal interference of the state in the sphere of freedom of conscience"; judge refers to December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling
Appeal: none
72. 16 December
Name: I.V. Parkhomuk
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Central District Court, Komsomolsk-on-Amur
Situation: Situation: charged with holding unlawful "group picket" outside shop with fellow Jehovah's Witnesses (O.V. Kozlova – see above), "the purpose of which was the formation of opinion and expression of religious orientation" with use of "graphic materials"; defendant claimed they answered questions from passers-by who approached of their own accord and caused no disturbance of public order or blocking of right of way; detained by police after a woman photographed them; judge concluded that "The need to notify the competent public authorities of such public religious activities and carry out other obligations established by legislation, on the strength of the mere fact that the meeting is occurring outside places designated for the purpose, is illegal interference of the state in the sphere of freedom of conscience"; judge refers to December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling
Appeal: none
73. 25 December
Name: M.V. Chernyshova
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Zelenogradsk District Court, Kaliningrad Region
Situation: Jehovah's Witness charged with holding picket without notification at bus stop, distributing free literature from information stand, and explaining beliefs to interested passers-by; judge rules that a single-person picket does not require notification and that such an activity does not require safety measures, therefore no notification necessary
Appeal: none
Known 2015 Article 20.2, Part 5 Cases
1. 25 February
Name: A.L. Redkov
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Serpukhov City Court, Moscow Region
Situation: charged with "picketing to express an opinion on the Bible" with information stand displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on pedestrian bridge outside station; judge concluded that neither the content nor the location of the action constituted a threat to public safety
Appeal: none
2. 5 March
Name: A.E. Chermnykh
Fine: 15,000 Roubles
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful picket (with G.R. Sokolova – see below), ie. displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on an information stand at a crossroads
Appeal: unsuccessful – 18 May 2015, Primorye Regional Court
3. 5 March
Name: G.R. Sokolova
Fine: 15,000 Roubles
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful "group picket" (with A.E. Chermnykh – see above), ie. displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on an information stand at a crossroads
Appeal: unsuccessful – 28 April 2015, Primorye Regional Court
4. 25 March
Name: O.G. Gorshkova
Fine: unknown
Court: Novocherkassk City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: charged with participation in an "unsanctioned public event" with fellow Jehovah's Witness I.V. Zebreva (see Part 2 list), ie. used information stand to display free religious literature in the street); judge mentions 2012 Constitutional Court ruling but concludes it has no bearing on the incident
Appeal: unsuccessful – 18 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court
5. 12 May
Name: L.G. Suleva
Fine: 10,000 Roubles – but acquitted at re-trial (see below)
Court: Shakhta City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: charged with unlawful "group picketing" for displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on a stand outside a park entrance on a pedestrianised street (with L.V. Klimenko – see below); investigated by prosecutors initially under Extremism Law as brochures bore the blocked jw.org website address
Appeal: case returned for re-examination – 14 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant acquitted at re-trial – 27 August 2015, Shakhta City Court
6. 12 May
Name: L.V. Klimenko
Fine: 10,000 Roubles – but acquitted at re-trial (see below)
Court: Shakhta City Court, Rostov Region
Situation: charged with unlawful "group picketing" for displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on a stand outside a park entrance on a pedestrianised street (with L.G. Suleva – see above); investigated by prosecutors initially under Extremism Law as brochures bore the blocked jw.org website address
Appeal: case returned for re-examination – 14 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant acquitted at re-trial – 27 August 2015, Shakhta City Court
7. 18 May
Name: A.I. Biganova
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: together with three others (Abayeva, Tsamakayev, Iluridze – see below), had Jehovah's Witness literature on moveable stand and answered questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of "Vladikavkaz" hotel; interpreted as picket
Appeal: unsuccessful – 2 September, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
8. 20 May
Name: Z.N. Abayeva
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: together with three others (Biganova, Tsamakayev, Iluridze – see above and below), had Jehovah's Witness literature on moveable stand and answered questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of "Vladikavkaz" hotel; interpreted as picket
Appeal: unsuccessful – 2 September, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
9. 2 June
Name: R. Kh. Tsamakayev
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: together with three others (Biganova, Abayeva, Iluridze – see above and below), had Jehovah's Witness literature on moveable stand and answered questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of "Vladikavkaz" hotel; interpreted as picket
Appeal: unsuccessful – 24 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
10. 8 June
Name: N.V. Kirillov
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Proletarian District Court, Rostov-on-Don
Situation: one of three Baptists (see Rogachyov and Leyn, below) "preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ with the use of visual aids, namely religious publications distributed free of charge"; interpreted by police as picket, but not by district court judge
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful – 14 July, Rostov Regional Court
11. 9 June
Name: L.N. Leyn
Fine: none – acquitted (but convicted and fined unknown amount at re-trial – see below)
Court: Proletarian District Court, Rostov-on-Don
Situation: charged with unlawful picketing with two fellow Baptists (see Rogachyov and Kirillov), "preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ with the use of visual aids, namely religious publications distributed free of charge" in the vicinity of a school, in violation of the Demonstrations Law; original judge ruled this was not a picket – retrial judge upheld police claim
Appeal: police appeal against acquittal – successful; case sent for re-examination, 22 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted on re-trial, 7 August 2015, Proletarian District Court; defendant's subsequent appeal unsuccessful – 8 October 2015, Rostov Regional Court
12. 9 June
Name: E.A. Rogachyov
Fine: none – acquitted (but convicted and fined 5000 Roubles after re-trials – see below)
Court: Proletarian District Court, Rostov-on-Don
Situation: charged with unlawful picketing with two fellow Baptists (Leyn and Kirillov – see above), "preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ with the use of visual aids, namely religious publications distributed free of charge" in the vicinity of a school, in violation of the Demonstrations Law; original judge ruled this was not a picket – retrial judges upheld police claim
Appeal: police appeal against acquittal – successful; case sent for re-examination, 22 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted on re-trial – 7 August 2015, Proletarian District Court; at defendant's subsequent appeal, case again sent for re-examination – 20 October 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted again at second re-trial – 20 November 2015; defendant's subsequent appeal unsuccessful – 26 January 2016, Rostov Regional Court
13. 15 June
Name: Artyom Chumbayev
Fine: 15,000
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye
Situation: charged with participating in an unlawful "group picket" of three Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (no evidence of charges against others) distributing religious literature from a stand at a crossroads with a sign reading "Hare Krishna"
Appeal: none
14. 16 June
Name: A.D. Iluridze
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful "group picket" for displaying Jehovah's Witness literature on moveable stand and answering questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of "Vladikavkaz" hotel, together with three others (Biganova, Abayeva, Tsamakayev – see above)
Appeal: unsuccessful – 23 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania
15. 26 June
Name: O.D. Kudyasheva
Fine: 5000
Court: Lenin District Court, Kirov
Situation: took part in distribution of Jehovah's Witness literature from information stand on pavement at crossroads; interpreted as picket involving more than one person; approached and recorded by plainclothes officer after call from member of the public; with G.A. Klabukova (see below)
Appeal: unsuccessful – 13 August, Kirov Regional Court
16. 26 June
Name: G.A. Klabukova
Fine: 3000
Court: Lenin District Court, Kirov
Situation: took part in distribution of Jehovah's Witness literature from information stand on pavement at crossroads, with O.D. Kudyasheva (see above); interpreted as picket involving more than one person; approached and recorded by plainclothes officer after call from member of the public; "Klabukova openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people may be envisaged – that is, in conditions which require the adoption of measures to ensure public order and the security of the participants of the religious activities and other citizens; there was a danger of disruption of public order, associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 13 August, Kirov Regional Court
17. 10 July
Name: V.G. Khimich
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye
Situation: distributing Jehovah's Witness literature outside mini-market from stand marked "Would you like to study the Bible?"; interpreted as picket – but judge concluded that it was a one-person picket which does not require notification; originally found guilty in magistrate's court No. 66 – verdict overturned at district court on 8 July and sent for examination at district level
Appeal: none
18. 27 July
Name: Olga Belokon
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Industrial District Court, Perm
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful "group picket", ie. distribution of Jehovah's Witness literature with a companion (T.V. Ganzha – see Part 2 list), "in a public place not for public religious activities, at an underpass – that is, openly demonstrating their religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people may be envisaged, creating the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 10 September, Perm Regional Court
19. 17 August
Name: T.V. Dubenets
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Khamovnichesky District Court, Moscow
Situation: charged with participating in Falun Gong "group picket" protesting against persecution of the movement's adherents in China – defendant's claim that he came upon an acquaintance by chance and only helped her put up a banner, before practising Qigong nearby, was not accepted by court (see S.M. Kiselyova, 17 August, Part 2 list)
Appeal: unsuccessful – 8 October 2015, Moscow City Court
20. 31 August
Name: N.V. Lai
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Frunze District Court, Vladivostok
Situation: charged with disturbing public order and disturbing passers-by including Chinese consular staff by gesticulating and shouting – held placard with Chinese script and handed out leaflets about the Falun Gong spiritual movement; judge concluded that this did not violate the established procedure for a one-person picket
Appeal: none
21. 8 September
Name: O.N. Nesterenko
Fine: none – acquitted
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye
Situation: Jehovah's Witness; picket; information stand with religious literature "in the presence of passing citizens"; judge concludes that since she was alone, there was no violation
Appeal: none
22. 17 September
Name: A.A. Karatygin
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Krasnoarmeysk City Court, Saratov Region
Situation: with Mezhennikov (see below), charged with participating in unlawful "group picket" in Lenin Street, telling passers-by about Jehovah's Witness beliefs, using "visual agitation", ie. information stand with free religious literature
Appeal: successful – 25 November, Saratov Regional Court
23. 21 September
Name: M.N. Mezhennikov
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Krasnoarmeysk City Court, Saratov Region
Situation: with Karatygin (see above), charged with participating in unlawful "group picket" in Lenin Street, telling passers-by about Jehovah's Witness beliefs, using "visual agitation", ie. information stand with free religious literature
Appeal: successful – 14 December, Saratov Regional Court
24. 28 September
Name: Oleg Kim
Fine: 5000 Roubles
Court: Smidovich District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful group "picket" of five Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (including Yevgeny Fedoreyev and Vladimir Gerasimenko – see below – and Dmitry Moskvichyov and Nikolai Kryukov – see Part 2 list) outside "Voskhod" shop in Magadan, singing songs, offering religious literature, and promoting their "healthy way of life based on spiritual faith"
Appeal: none
25. 12 October
Name: Yevgeny Fedoreyev
Fine: unknown
Court: October District Court, Amur Region
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful group "picket" of five Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (including Oleg Kim and Vladimir Gerasimenko – see above and below – and Dmitry Moskvichyov and Nikolai Kryukov – see Part 2 list) outside "Voskhod" shop in Magadan, singing songs, offering religious literature, and promoting their "healthy way of life based on spiritual faith"
Appeal: none
26. 14 October
Name: Vladimir Gerasimenko
Fine: unknown
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladivostok
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful group "picket" of five Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (including Yevgeny Fedoreyev and Oleg Kim – see above – and Dmitry Moskvichyov and Nikolai Kryukov – see Part 2 list) outside "Voskhod" shop in Magadan, singing songs, offering religious literature, and promoting their "healthy way of life based on spiritual faith"
Appeal: none
27. 28 October
Name: V.A. Tishchenko
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful "group picket" distributing religious literature; "at the time of the offence, Tishchenko was not engaged in worship, prayer, or a religious rite, but was displaying and distributing religious literature in a crowded public place" – judge concluded this occurred outside the places permitted under the Religion Law, and was therefore governed wholly by Demonstrations Law and required notification
Appeal: unsuccessful – 23 December, Primorye Regional Court
28. 9 November
Name: T.S. Shchennikova
Fine: 5000
Court: Kotelnich District Court, Kirov Region
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful "group picket" of four Jehovah's Witnesses (including Zyazeva – no evidence of charges against other two), using an information stand and "other forms of visual agitation" in a pedestrian zone to "raise awareness among the population and passers-by of the particularities of Jehovah's Witness doctrine" – message apparently sent to police, which resulted in the four being taken to the police station "which indicated a negative reaction on the part of citizens and, hence, did not exclude the potential danger of public disorder...requiring adequate control by the public authorities"; the judge concluded that "the purpose of a picket is to draw attention not only to a picketed object, but also to a particular problem or a particular socio-social phenomena .. Shchennikova openly demonstrated her religious opinion in a place in which the mass presence of people may be envisaged"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 9 February 2016, Kirov Regional Court
29. 11 November
Name: A.V. Zyazeva
Fine: 5000
Court: Kotelnich District Court, Kirov Region
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful "group picket" of four Jehovah's Witnesses (including Shchennikova – see above – no evidence of charges against other two), using an information stand and "other forms of visual agitation" in a pedestrian zone to "raise awareness among the population and passers-by of the particularities of Jehovah's Witness doctrine" – message apparently sent to police, which resulted in the four being taken to the police station "which indicated a negative reaction on the part of citizens and, hence, did not exclude the potential danger of public disorder...requiring adequate control by the public authorities"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 22 December, Kirov Regional Court
30. 11 November
Name: L.R. Kagarmanova
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Sibai City Court, Bashkortostan
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful "group picket" with fellow Jehovah's Witness (A.M. Sagidullina – see below), "expressing opinions and relationship to the Bible, familiarising citizens with the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses by displaying printed products of the religious organisation on a specially equipped stand" near fountain in Victory Park; FSB alerted prosecutor to plans "to attract new adepts" – prosecutor's office official asked two passers-by to act as witnesses, and asked the women to go to the prosecutor's office to give statements
Appeal: unsuccessful but fine reduced to 5000 – 23 December, Supreme Court of Bashkortostan
31. 25 November
Name: A.M. Sagidullina
Fine: 5000
Court: Sibai City Court, Bashkortostan, Judge L.Kh. Sufyanova
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful "group picket" with fellow Jehovah's Witness (L.R. Kagarmanova – see above), "expressing opinions and relationship to the Bible, familiarising citizens with the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses by displaying printed products of the religious organisation on a specially equipped stand" near fountain in Victory Park; FSB alerted prosecutor to plans "to attract new adepts" – prosecutor's office official asked two passers-by to act as witnesses, and asked the women to go to the prosecutor's office to give statements
Appeal: unsuccessful – Supreme Court of Bashkortostan, 1 February 2016
32. 26 November
Name: N.V. Mironenko
Fine: unknown
Court: Prokhladny District Court, Kabardino-Balkariya
Situation: charged with participation with fellow Jehovah's Witness (Lyudmila Ponomarenko – see below) in "a public event in the form of picketing, setting up an information stand in a public place... distributing [religious] literature and publicly demonstrating their religious beliefs and opinions about religion, in violation of the established procedure [of conducting public events]"; also convicted by same court of distributing extremist literature, 6 November 2015
Appeal: none
33. 26 November
Name: Lyudmila Ponomarenko
Fine: unknown
Court: Prokhladny District Court, Kabardino-Balkariya
Situation: charged with participation with fellow Jehovah's Witness (N.V. Mironenko – see above) in "a public event in the form of picketing, setting up an information stand in a public place... distributing [religious] literature and publicly demonstrating their religious beliefs and opinions about religion, in violation of the established procedure [of conducting public events]"; also convicted by same court of distributing extremist literature, 6 November 2015
Appeal: none
34. 10 December
Name: Ye. A. Lavrentyeva
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Zavolzhsky District Court, Tver
Situation: charged with participation in "group picket" with unnamed fellow Jehovah's Witness (who was not charged), using an information stand to display brochures; defendant described this as "religious service"; judge concluded that she "openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, by which she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens"
Appeal: unsuccessful – 17 February 2016, Tver Regional Court
35. 11 December
Name: Ivan Tereshchuk
Fine: 10,000 Roubles
Court: Korolyov City Court, Moscow Region
Situation: charged with participating in a meeting for which no notification had been submitted – after attending a Pentecostal conference in Moscow, defendant and his wife walked to the Kamenny Bridge, where he "loudly told the people there about his life and how faith in God had transformed him"; defendant was taken away by police officers who said a complaint had been made
Appeal: none
(END)
For more background, see Forum 18's surveys of the general state of freedom of religion or belief in Russia at http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1722, and of the dramatic decline in religious freedom related to Russia's Extremism Law at http://www.forum18.org/
A personal commentary by Alexander Verkhovsky, Director of the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis http://www.sova-center.ru, about the systemic problems of Russian anti-extremism legislation, is at F18News 19 July 2010 http://www.forum18.org/
A personal commentary by Irina Budkina, Editor of the http://www.samstar.ucoz.ru Old Believer website, about continuing denial of equality to Russia's religious minorities, is at F18News 26 May 2005 http://www.forum18.org/
More reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Russia can be found at http://www.forum18.org/
A compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments can be found at http://www.forum18.org/
A printer-friendly map of Russia is available at http://nationalgeographic.org/
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