KAMCHATKA
TERRITORIAL
COURT ANNULS RETURN OF CASE OF BAZHENOV COUPLE AND VERA ZOLOTOVA
TO PROSECUTOR
Jehovah's
Witnesses
in Russia, 9 January 2020
On 9
January 2020,
the Kamchatka territorial court overturned the decision of the
Elizovo district
court returning a case to the prosecutor. This means that the
criminal case
against the Bazhenov couple and 73-year-old Vera Zolotova will
again be sent to
the Elizovo district court for consideration on the merits.
On 7
November 2019,
the Elizovo district court, with Judge Ya.A. Konysheva
presiding, conducted a
judicial session in which the prosecution side announced the
indictment and the
defense side petitioned for a return of the case to the
prosecutor.
On 14
November 2019,
the Elizovo district court returned the criminal case to the
prosecutor's
office. The reasons for this decision will become clear as soon
as there is
access to the text of the order. As a rule, a court returns a
case to the
prosecutor's office if the prosecution has not gathered
sufficiently convincing
grounds for a trial.
On 19
August 2018, in
the city of Elizovo of Kamchatka territory, searches were
conducted in the
homes of at least 3 citizens who were suspected of professing
the religion of
the Jehovah's Witnesses. Among the 11 detained citizens were
Konstantin
Bazhenov, his wife Snezhana, their minor-aged daughter, and also
71-year-old
Vera Zolotova. They all were placed in an IVS [temporary holding
cell].
Konstantin spent 8 days in the SIZO [pretrial investigation
cell], after which
he was released under a signed pledge not to depart. His wife,
Snezhana, and
Vera Zolotova had been released after two days. A signed pledge
not to depart
was taken from them.
Against
these
peaceful citizens a criminal case was opened on the basis of
article 282.2(1)
of the CC RF (organizing an extremist organization). According
to the
investigation, they conducted group worship services, which the
authorities
continue to interpret as illegal activity. (tr. by PDS, posted 9
January 2020)
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