The Chelyabinsk Regional Court Reduced Yevgeniy Bushev's Term of Imprisonment in a Penal Colony From 7 to 6 Years

On April 25, 2024, the Chelyabinsk Regional Court considered the appeal against the verdict of one of - Jehovah's Witnesses, Yevgeny Bushev, 50, and reduced his prison sentence from 7 to 6 years. The court deemed discussing the Bible to be "organizing the activity of an extremist organization."

In the appeal, the defense drew attention to the fact that the conclusions of the court of first instance did not correspond to the actual circumstances of the case. The prosecution did not mention specific extremist actions allegedly committed by the defendant. Also, the fact that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation did not ban the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses was not taken into account, and the right to be a believer does not depend on the existence of a legal entity. In addition, no evidence was presented in court hearings that Bushev's actions or intentions were aimed at inciting hatred and enmity. Consequently, "as a result of a miscarriage of justice, the believer was convicted only for professing beliefs based on the Bible and peacefully practicing his Christian faith as one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Before the verdict was announced in the Kalininskiy District Court of the city of Chelyabinsk, Yevgeny Bushev said in his final statement: "I find it very sad that the prosecutor, requesting punishment... has equated me with those who have committed premeditated murder, because such a term is appointed for a crime like that."

Human rights activists and scholars note that such an attitude towards citizens violates their basic right to freedom of conscience and religion. From 2017 to the present, Russian law enforcement officers have already prosecuted 804 people who are practicing the faith of Jehovah's Witnesses.