Marina with her family at the penal colony on the day of the wedding

Marina with her family at the penal colony on the day of the wedding

Marina with her family at the penal colony on the day of the wedding

Inside Penal Colonies and Detention Centers

Stronger Than Prison Chains. Wedding of Jehovah's Witness Sergey Shulyarenko Took Place in The Penal Colony in Blagoveshchensk

Jewish Autonomous Area

On September 27, 2023, near Penal Colony No.8 in the Amur Region, there was a festive atmosphere unusual for a place like this – about 20 people with flowers and gifts gathered for the wedding of prisoner of conscience Sergey Shulyarenko and his bride Marina.

By that day, Shulyarenko had spent almost four months in the penal colony out of the six years and nine months imposed by the court for his faith. He is living in a barrack for 100 people, is training as a machine operator for joinery and is attending English classes.

"On our wedding day, fellow believers provided invaluable support and assistance," Marina said. "When we arrived at the penal colony, we were surprised to see a large group of supporters. Everyone was joyful and happy." According to her, visitors to the penal colony watched in amazement at qhat was happening.

The parents of the newlyweds attended the registration of the marriage, which took a little more than 5 minutes. Shulyarenko was allowed to dress smartly for the event. Staff of the penal colony took wedding photographs for Sergey and Marina. Afterward, the couple and their parents celebrated the wedding in the visiting room.

Speaking on how the newlyweds build their family life in spite of the prison chains, Marina said: "Sergey calls whenever he gets the opportunity. We tell each other what interesting things happened to us, mention our problems, and news. Every time we ask what we need to pray about. Letters are also a huge support. We try our best to encourage each other, help each other to stay positive and assure each other of our love.

Since the liquidation of Jehovah's Witnesses' legal entities in Russia, criminal prosecution for their faith has already turned the lives of almost 800 people, upside down 139 of whom have been sentenced to penal colonies for terms ranging from 2 to 8 years. The international community, including the European Court of Human Rights, considers what is happening unlawful and calls on Russia to stop the repression of believers.

The Case of Aliyev and Others in Birobidzhan

Case History
In May 2018, in the city of Birobidzhan a special FSB operation with the participation of 150 security officials, code-named "Judgement Day", took place. More than 20 families of Jehovah's Witnesses have become victims of criminal prosecution, including Alam Aliyev,Valeriy Kriger, Sergey Shulyarenko, and Dmitriy Zagulin. The believers were charged with holding meetings for worship, which the investigation deemed to be the organizing the activity of an extremist organization and financing it. They spent more than 5 months in pretrial detention. In November 2020, the case went to court. The hearings lasted more than 2 years, and in December 2022, the court sentenced Zagulin to 3.5 years, Aliyev to 6.5 years, and Shulyarenko and Kriger to 7 years in a penal colony. The court of appeal upheld the terms of Zagulin and Aliyev and reduced those of Shulyarenko and Kriger by 3 months. The court of cassation upheld the verdict in March 2024. The wives of three of the convicts were also prosecuted: Svetlana Monis, Tatyana Zagulina and Natalya Kriger. In September 2023, Sergey Shulyarenko's wedding took place in the penal colony.
Timeline

Persons in case

Aliyev
Alam
Kriger
Valeriy
Shulyarenko
Sergey
Zagulin
Dmitriy

Criminal case

Region:
Jewish Autonomous Area
Locality:
Birobidzhan
Suspected of:
according to the investigation he together with others conducted meetings for worship, which is interpreted as “organising the activity of an extremist organisation” (with reference to the decision of the RF Supreme Court on the liquidation of all 396 registered organisations of Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Court case number:
11807990001000008
Initiated:
May 14, 2018
Current case stage:
the verdict entered into force
Investigating:
Investigative Department of the FSB Directorate of Russia for the Jewish Autonomous Region
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation:
282.2 (1), 282.3 (1)
Court case number:
№ 1-8/2022 (1-65/2021; 1-609/2020)
Court:
Birobidzhanskiy District Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region
Judge:
Yana Vladimirova
Case History