OMSK COURT BARELY ABLE TO WITHSTAND AUDIENCE FOR CASE OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
by Alexandra Kashtanova
The Omsk oblast court reviewed an appeal against the measure for assuring appearance for the Poliakov couple. They are suspected of participating in an extremist organization.
The Omsk oblast court decided the issue of the measure for assuring appearance for Sergei and Anastasia Poliakov. According to the account of the investigation, they are participants in the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses (the organization is extremist and its activity is prohibited on the territory of the RF). They are suspected of conducting the activity of an extremist organization or participating in such.
We recall that the arrest occurred in early July. Security forces arrested them at their home. Sergei Poliakov and his wife, Anastasia, were arrested and taken to a SIZO [pretrial detention]. The Witnesses tried to appeal this measure for assuring appearance. It is considered that previously, in similar cases, women have not been brought to justice, much less held in investigative custody.
Before the start of the judicial session, it was standing room only in the corridors of the court. Dozens of people gathered to support the suspects. Old folk, youth, some came with children. But the small courtroom simply was not able to accommodate all comers. The Poliakov case had to be moved to a larger courtroom. A bit later the consideration of the appeal against the choice of a preventive measure for her husband began. Both were present in court only by virtual means—an internet broadcast came from the SIZO.
Sergei Poliakov described in detail how the arrest occurred and he was sincerely puzzled—he does not understand what he is accused of. The organization was banned in Russia long ago. He has been in Serbia, with his wife, for the last few years. In making his speech before the announcement of the verdict, he even began quoting a sacred book, which evoked the judge's displeasure, who asked him to speak to the substance of the case. However, the public that had come for the session approved the defendant's speech. All of Poliakov's supporters could not get into the courtroom. Even the corridor outside the courtroom was packed wall-to-wall.
The judge did not want to change the decision of the Azovo district court and left the couple in custody until 20 August.
The Investigative Committee emphasized: "During the search in the home of the accused, an investigator found and seized religious literature and also other documents giving evidence about participation in the criminal offense that is charged." (tr. by PDS, posted 18 July 2018)
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