Court of Appeal in Khabarovsk Overturned the Guilty Verdict Against Two Pensioners. The Case Will Be Considered by the Same Court of a Different Composition

On December 5, 2023, a panel of judges of the Khabarovsk Territorial Court overturned the verdict against Lyubov Kocherova and Lyubov Ovchinnikova from the village of Knyaze-Volkonskoye — 6-year suspended sentence for their faith in Jehovah God — and sent the case back for a new trial. The court thus granted the prosecutor's appeal.

The case will be heard in the same court that passed the original verdict (Khabarovsk District Court), but comprising a different panel of judges.

Lyubov Kocherova emphasized in her appeal: "The court did not substantiate in the verdict why the peaceful way of expressing faith in God was regarded by the court as committing a crime." She also noted: "The Constitution of the Russian Federation allows me to be a religious person." Lyubov Ovchinnikova pointed out: "The court verdict is an act of direct and indirect gross religious discrimination."

In an additional appeal, the defense drew attention to the fact that, when considering a criminal case, the court did not establish what specific actions directly aimed at continuing the activity of any banned organization were committed by the women. In other words, the court did not identify the crime.

Prosecution of Jehovah's Witnesses continues in the Khabarovsk Territory. The verdicts against 17 believers have already entered into force in the region.