From left to right: Vladimir Sakada, Yevgeniy Zhukov and Vladimir Maladyka attend the appeal hearing via video conferencing

From left to right: Vladimir Sakada, Yevgeniy Zhukov and Vladimir Maladyka attend the appeal hearing via video conferencing

From left to right: Vladimir Sakada, Yevgeniy Zhukov and Vladimir Maladyka attend the appeal hearing via video conferencing

Unjust Verdicts

Court of Appeal in Sevastopol Upheld the Verdict Against Three Local Jehovah's Witnesses. For Their Faith in God, They Will Serve Long Terms in a Penal Colony

Crimea

On October 11, 2023, the judicial panel of the Sevastopol City Court upheld the verdict against Vladimir Maladyka, 60, Yevgeniy Zhukov, 53, and Vladimir Sakada, 52, – 6 years in a penal colony. The verdict has entered into force, but can be appealed in the cassation procedure.

In his appeal, the lawyer pointed out that Maladyka, Sakada and Zhukov "were convicted only because their beliefs are based on the Bible and they peacefully practiced their Christian faith." At court hearings, they did not deny that they were Jehovah's Witnesses and that together with family and friends, they sang songs praising God, approached him in prayer and discussed the Bible. At the same time, the believers explained that their goal was to practice their religion, help people and show kindness and love for others.

According to the defense, the conviction of Maladyka, Zhukov and Sakada "clearly demonstrated that, if they do not renounce their religious views, they will continue to be prosecuted." At the same time, the April 20, 2017 decision of the RF Supreme Court did not oblige citizens to change their faith and their usual forms of its practice.

In Crimea 27 believers have already been prosecuted for their faith. Because of their convictions, 12 people have been sentenced to 6 or more years in a penal colony and two others have received suspended sentences. The international community and human rights officials consider the prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses unjust and call on the Russian Federation to stop criminal cases and release prisoners of conscience.

Case of Zhukov and Others in Sevastopol

Case History
In October 2020, security forces conducted searches of believers in Sevastopol. The day before, the FSB initiated a criminal case against Vladimir Maladyka, Yevgeniy Zhukov and Vladimir Sakada. They were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization only because of their faith in Jehovah God. The charges were based on video recordings of four worship services of Jehovah’s Witnesses made by FSB agents. The believers spent a day in a temporary detention facility, then the court sent them to a pre-trial detention center. In April 2021, the case went to trial. During the hearings, FSB officer Dmitriy Shevchenko, who conducted surveillance of the believers, stated that no signs of extremism or facts of inciting religious hatred were identified in their actions. During the investigation and trial each men spent more than a year and four months in a pre-trial detention center and more than eight months under house arrest. In October 2022, the court sentenced them to six years in prison in a general regime colony. The appeal upheld this decision a year later, and in December 2024, the verdict was finally confirmed by the court of cassation.
Timeline

Persons in case

Maladyka
Vladimir
Sakada
Vladimir
Zhukov
Yevgeniy

Criminal case

Region:
Crimea
Locality:
Sevastopol
Suspected of:
According to the investigation, "they supervised liturgical meetings, familiarizing people with the Holy Scriptures, performing works of mercy ... dissemination of information in society affecting scientific, social, historical topics" (from the decision to bring as an accused)
Court case number:
12007350001670043
Initiated:
October 1, 2020
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1)
Court case number:
1-13/2022 (1-228/2021)
Court:
Nakhimovskiy District Court of the City of Sevastopol
Judge:
Olga Berdnikova
Case History
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