Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Kemerovo Upheld the Sentence Against Lubov Serebryakova, 72. She Was Given a 4-Year Suspended Sentence.

Kemerovo Region

On September 5, 2023, the Kemerovo Regional Court upheld the verdict against Lubov Serebryakova, 72, who was given a 4-year suspended sentence with a 3-year probation period and restriction of freedom for 10 months for talking about God. The verdict may be appealed in cassation proceedings.

In her appeal, Lubov Serebryakova pointed out the mistakes that, in her opinion, were made by the court of first instance. For example, the verdict does not describe the specific extremist actions that the prosecution claimed she had participated in. Dates, times and places of any alleged extremist actions committed and their role in continuing the activity of the banned organization are not indicated. In addition, the believer notes that "the verdict cannot be based on the assumptions" of the witnesses for the prosecution. Testifying, they explained that they did not know the defendant and had not met her before. One of them is a clergyman of another denomination, who also could not confirm anything of what the pensioner is accused of.

Before the start of the unfair criminal prosecution, Lubov had two heart attacks, and shortly before the completion of the pretrial investigation, she again needed emergency cardiac care.

Russian courts have already convicted 85 Jehovah's Witnesses over the age of 60. Of these, 21 believers received terms of imprisonment, 12 are in penal colonies at the moment.

The Case of Serebryakova in Novokuznetsk

Case History
In the summer of 2021, searches were conducted at homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Novokuznetsk. A year later, the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case against pensioner Lubov Serebryakova, and she was placed under a recognizance agreement. The investigation found the believer guilty of extremism for attending meetings for worship of Jehovah’s Witnesses and talking about the Bible. Worries about the criminal prosecution made her already poor health even worse. In August 2022, the case went to court. About a year later, the believer was given a 4-year suspended sentence, although the prosecutor had requested a year less. The court of appeal upheld this verdict.
Timeline

Persons in case

Serebryakova
Lubov

Criminal case

Region:
Kemerovo Region
Locality:
Novokuznetsk
Suspected of:
"personally promoted the activity of the organization and its ideologies", "participated in missionary activities", "participated in meetings of followers of the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses by preaching the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses" (from the decision to charge)
Court case number:
12202320010000262
Initiated:
July 8, 2022
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kemerovo Region - Kuzbass
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (2)
Court case number:
1-21/2023 (1-269/2022)
Court of First Instance:
Kuznetskiy District Court of the city of Novokuznetsk
Judge of the Court of First Instance:
Olga Chayka
Case History
Back to top