COURT
RETURNS TO
PROSECUTOR CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST BELIEVER FROM VLADIVOSTOK
Jehovah's
Witnesses
in Russia, 15 November 2019
On 12
November 2019,
the Lenin district court of Vladivostok, with Judge Anton
Sklizkov presiding,
refused to consider the case of Valentin Osadchuk. Defendants in
this case also
include six women, the oldest of whom is 85 years.
Valentin
Osadchuk was
arrested on 19 April 2018. He spent 275 days in the SIZO and 77
days under
house arrest. Now the believer is released on his own
recognizance. In April
2019, during a preliminary investigation, the court impounded an
automobile and
money, which had been seized from Valentin during a search in
his home.
According to the investigation, he and the other defendants
participated in
worship services, which is interpreted as participation in the
activity of an
extremist organization. The first preliminary hearing in the
case was held on
14 October 2019.
In most
instances,
the court returns a case to the prosecutor if the indictment
includes
substantial violations of the law, such as the charge not being
specified. (tr.
by PDS, posted 16 November 2019)
Background articles:
Authorities have easy way to punish elderly
Jehovah's Witnesses
July 31, 2019
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