JEHOVAH'S WITNESS FROM
SOCHI, VIACHESLAV
POPOV, TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY
Kavkazskii
Uzel, 22 October 2019
The Krasnodar territorial
court rejected
an appeal against a decision concerning his detention by a
Jehovah's Witness*
from Sochi, Viacheslav Popov, who is accused of extremism. His
defense attorney
requested the release of Popov on his own recognizance or to
house arrest,
since three children and a spouse are dependant on him.
As Kavkazskii Uzel wrote,
on 17 October
investigators reported the arrest of two Jehovah's Witnesses* in
Sochi. The
investigators suppose that two residents from Adler, aged 45 and
68 years, over
the course of two years organized meetings and religious
performances,
attracting new members into an organization that a court has
ruled to be
extremist and forbidden in Russia. Searches also were conducted
in homes of
other believers. After this they were forced to abandon their
open meetings. On
21 October, the Krasnodar territorial court left Nikolai
Kuzichkin in custody
until 24 November and postponed consideration of Viacheslav
Popov's appeal.
Today the Krasnodar
territorial court
issued a decision on the appeal by 45-year-old Viacheslav Popov.
As an employee
of the clerk of the territorial court for criminal cases
explained for a
Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent, the order for the detention in
custody of Popov
and Kuzichkin until 24 November has taken effect.
A court session that was
scheduled for
today at 10:00 a.m. was delayed without explanation and occurred
at 3:00 p.m.
Moscow time, Nikolai Kuzichkin and Viacheslav Popov's attorney,
Anton Bogdanov,
reported to a Kavkazskii Uzel correspondent.
He said that today the
court was
presented documents confirming that Viacheslav Popov is an
educated person, a
good family man, a caring father and husband, and is "not
dangerous, but
on the contrary is useful for society." "But these arguments had
no
effect on the judge, just as happened in yesterday's session
with information
that the 68-year-old man (Kuzichkin) is sick and has excellent
character
references and does much that is useful for society," Anton
Bogdanov
noted.
He
described how Popov has higher education with a specialty as an
"architect," and he studied in the Tomsk State University of
Architecture and Civil Engineering. From an evaluation provided
by the general
director of the Design Institute of Construction, Modernization,
and
Reconstruction it transpires that Viacheslav Popov has worked in
this
organization from 10 April 2017 to the present as the head of
the Department of
Architecture and Design.
The
evaluation says, in particular, that Viacheslav Popov showed
himself to be a
professional, literate, and responsible employee. "He is hard
working and
has a high capacity for work. He
is not contentious. He has cordial relations with colleagues and
displays
sensitivity and patience. He is well balanced and proper. He is
distinguished
by punctuality, and holds himself to high standards and strives
for professional
growth," Popov's evaluation says, which Anton Bogdanov read.
According to the attorney, Viacheslav Popov "took the
court's
decision with dignity and calm." "My client does not consider
himself
guilty, since he, like his colleague Nikolai Kuzichkin, has not
done any
illegal actions," the attorney explained.
He reported that he intends to appeal against the
actions of security
forces. "In particular the arrest reports, which contain much
that is not
in accord with reality," Anton Bogdanov said.
"Viacheslav Popov is younger and stronger physically
than
Kuzichkin. But four persons, three children and a spouse, are
dependant on him.
It is a believing and large family. There are minor children,
ages 8 and 15.
One daughter just recently turned 18. The family has no
communication with the
husband and father. Grown members of the family still cannot
communicate with
news media because of the stress they have had," the lawyer
explained.
Kavkazskii Uzel still does not possess any comments from
the
investigation regarding the circumstances of the case against
Nikolai Kuzichkin
and Viacheslav Popov.
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