“The Armenian City Court announced the verdict against Alexander Dubovenko and Alexander Litvinyuk, according to which both defendants were found guilty of organizing the activities of the religious community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Both believers were sentenced by “Judge” Tatyana Fedeneva to 6 years in prison with a sentence of serving in a penal colony with deprivation of the right to participate in educational activities, as well as activities related to speeches and publications in the media for a period of 5 years and with restriction of freedom for a period of 1 year,” the message reads.

As indicated, the entire trial, which began on April 5, took place behind closed doors, with no access to the hearings.

“It is known that Alexander Dubovenko and Alexander Litvinyuk were charged with actions by a group of persons with prior authorization, for organizing and conducting meetings, religious performances, studying materials and attracting new members to the religious community of Jehovah’s Witnesses , whose activities are banned in Russia,” they said at the trial in Crimea.

A total of 42 hearings were held on the “case”. All this time, the defendants were under house arrest, and after the verdict was passed, they were taken into custody in the “court”.

Earlier, the representative of the “state prosecutor” Minigul Saddykova asked the court for a prison sentence of 6 years for both defendants.

To remind:

• In August 2021, the FSB filed a criminal case against Crimea Alexander Litvinyuk and Alexander Dubovenko, who accused them of organizing the activities of an extremist organization. On August 5, the homes of 8 representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses were searched. Litvinyuk was detained and interrogated. Dubovenko, who was absent on the day of the search, was also later arrested and questioned. His house was searched again. The believers were under house arrest for over a year. The case came to court in March 2022.