Jehovah's Witnesses From Tynda Found Guilty of Extremism After Second Appeal. Four Believers Received More Than 6 Years in a Penal Colony

On September 5, 2023, the Amur Regional Court upheld the sentence against four Jehovah's Witnesses. Vladimir Bukin, Valeriy Slashchev and Sergey Yuferov will have to serve a sentence of 6 years and 4 months in prison, and Mikhail Burkov - 6 years and 2 months for meetings with fellow believers. The verdict has entered into force.

Back in October 2022, the Tyndinskiy District Court sentenced believers to various terms of imprisonment ranging from 6 years and 2 months to 6.5 years. However, the court of appeal overturned this decision, and the men were released from the pretrial detention center, where they had each spent 2 months. The retrial of the case was completed in June 2023. Judge Valentina Brikova issued a verdict that differed slightly from the first one – ranging now from 6 years and two months to 6 years and 4 months in a penal colony.

In their appeals, the believers noted that "the RF Supreme Court did not ban the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses and did not assess the legitimacy of the religious beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses and the ways in which they were expressed." According to the convicted persons, it follows that "despite the liquidation of legal entities, [they] still have the right to freely practice the religion of [their] choice, including reading the Bible and discussing it with others, praying to God, singing songs praising God, and talking to other people about their faith." The believers maintain their innocence. They have the right to appeal the verdict in cassation proceedings.

In the Amur Region, nine other of Jehovah's Witnesses have been convicted for their faith and sentenced to 6 years or more imprisonment.