http:\/\/www.forum18.org\/archive.php?article_id=2117<\/a>). However, the police challenged these rulings at Rostov Regional Court on the grounds that the district court had not taken into account the fact that the “picket” had been held near an educational institution. Kirillov’s acquittal was upheld, but Leyn and Rogachyov (who faced a different appeal court judge) were sent for re-trial and found guilty on 7 August. Leyn appealed unsuccessfully on 8 October, while Rogachyov’s case was again returned for re-examination at the lower court, where he was convicted again and fined 5,000 Roubles on 20 November.<\/p>\nCASE LISTING<\/p>\n
Known 2015 Article 20.2, Part 1 Cases<\/p>\n
1. 16 February<\/p>\n
Name: Yelena Romanova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Frunze District Court, Saratov<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding one-person picket without the “distinguishing sign of the organiser” of a public event; displayed Jehovah’s Witness literature on a stand in the street<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 29 April 2015, Saratov Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
2. 3 March<\/p>\n
Name: Valentina Brezgunova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Smolensk<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding picket with less than 50 metres between participants; with one other Baptist, distributed religious literature from a table in a park and spoke to interested passers-by; judge concluded action was not a picket\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful \u2013 5 May 2015, Smolensk Regional Court<\/p>\n
3. 16 April<\/p>\n
Name: A.N. Korolyov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Industrial District Court, Smolensk<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with violating procedure for picketing by standing less than 50 metres away from two other members of the Evangelical “Nehemiah” Church; defendant held placard saying “God exists” and was carrying church flyers; judge concludes that there is insufficient evidence<\/p>\n
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful \u2013 9 June 2015, Smolensk Regional Court<\/p>\n
4. 22 May<\/p>\n
Name: Antonina Kookuyeva<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted<\/p>\n
Court: Elista City Court, Kalymikiya<\/p>\n
Situation: leader of local Society of Friends of Tibet charged with conducting a procession from the city’s Buddha statue to a nearby temple and back again after a public prayer meeting (distance of less than 100 metres), not in accordance with submitted notification of event, which was for a prayer meeting only<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
5. 20 October<\/p>\n
Name: A.E. Baranov<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Rtishchevo District Court, Saratov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with organising “picket” with T.V. Kutukova (see below) outside a shop, with the use of “visual agitation” and free religious literature on a stand, at which he wore no identifying sign as organiser and did not notify authorities; appeal judge concluded there was no evidence provided that Baranov was the organiser; mentions lack of notification but acknowledges that this falls under Part 2 and judge has no right to discuss it in this hearing<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 12 January 2016, Saratov Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
6. 21 October<\/p>\n
Name: T.V. Kutukova<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Rtishchevo District Court, Saratov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with organising “picket” with A.E. Baranov (see above) outside a shop, with the use of “visual agitation” and free religious literature on a stand, at which she wore no identifying sign as organiser and did not notify authorities; argued that she was “not the organiser of a picket, but a participant in religious service”<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 12 January 2016, Saratov Regional Court<\/p>\n
7. 26 October<\/p>\n
Name: A.P. Chikunova (Bakhtarova)<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Saratov<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with distributing “agitational material about Evangelical Christians Baptists” in Victory Square, ie. New Testament and Psalms, without notification (no mention of any other violation) \u2013 need for this stressed by citing previous rulings<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
8. 27 October<\/p>\n
Name: S.M. Pelmeneva<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Mirnyy District Court, Sakha Republic<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with violating the rules of a one-person picket by standing with another person (N.A. Gorbunova \u2013 see below) and not submitting notification; argued that it was not a picket, but “religious service” in the form of distribution of religious literature from trolley to interested passers-by<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 9 February 2016, Supreme Court of the Sakha Republic<\/p>\n
9. 27 October<\/p>\n
Name: N.A. Gorbunova<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Mirnyy District Court, Sakha Republic<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with violating the rules of a one-person picket by standing with another person (S.M. Pelmeneva \u2013 see above) and not submitting notification; argued that it was not a picket, but “religious service” in the form of distribution of religious literature from trolley to interested passers-by<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 9 February 2016, Supreme Court of the Sakha Republic<\/p>\n
10. 9 November<\/p>\n
Name: D.N. Faleytor<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Saratov<\/p>\n
Situation: member of “Evangelical Christians \u2013 Baptists” charged with holding one-person picket without organiser’s identifying sign; used “visual agitation” and free religious literature to inform passers-by of beliefs and church activities\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
11. 19 November<\/p>\n
Name: D.D. Foot<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 article not applicable<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan<\/p>\n
Situation: US citizen charged with organising Mormon gathering on university premises (hostel) \u2013 violated 2012 Education Law which bans the creation and activities of religious organisations in state and municipal educational institutions; lawyer argued that he did not, and that Administrative Code does not provide for punishment of those doing so; judge agrees that he violated law on religious organisations in educational institutions, but that this does not constitute a public event, so cannot fall under Article 20.2, Part 1<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
12. 20 November<\/p>\n
Name: S.K. Watterson<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 article not applicable<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan<\/p>\n
Situation: US Mormon, as above<\/p>\n
Appeal: none\u00a0<\/p>\n
13. 20 November<\/p>\n
Name: D.T. Ryde<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 article not applicable<\/p>\n
Court: Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan<\/p>\n
Situation: US Mormon, as above<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
14. 20 November<\/p>\n
Name: R.N. Randall<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 article not applicable<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Astrakhan<\/p>\n
Situation: US Mormon, as above<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
Known 2015 Article 20.2, Part 2 Cases<\/p>\n
1. 22 January<\/p>\n
Name: Viktor Pechkurov<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Smolensk\t<\/p>\n
Situation: with three fellow Baptists, distributed religious literature in a public garden as par of a “mobile Christian library service” and was charged with holding an unlawful “picket” with less than 50 metres between participants \u2013 judge concluded notification was necessary, despite defendant’s argument that the event was not a picket; police alerted by anonymous caller warning of “sectarians” in the park<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 Smolensk Regional Court, 24 February 2015<\/p>\n
2. 11 February<\/p>\n
Name: A.V. Tushin<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Ivanovo<\/p>\n
Situation: defendant charged with organising “group picket” of three people (no evidence of charges against other two) outside a shopping centre, using a wheeled stand displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature; defendant claimed he was neither organiser nor participant, but had come across his fellow congregants by chance, and that “the dissemination of religious views by offering biblical literature with the aid of a wheeled stand does not correspond to the concept of a public event, and notification of authorities is not required”; police alerted by passer-by who had been given literature; the two women do not appear to have been charged<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 9 April 2015, Ivanovo Regional Court<\/p>\n
3. 18 February<\/p>\n
Name: L.I. Asatryan<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Magadan City Court<\/p>\n
Situation: defendant set up folding table with free religious literature in public garden \u2013 court interpreted this as picket, but judge concluded there was no evidence the defendant had organised and conducted the “event” together with another person (“Sh.”), who denied participating<\/p>\n
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful \u2013 9 April 2015, Magadan Regional Court<\/p>\n
4. 26 February<\/p>\n
Name: Liliya Vorobyova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Teykovo District Court, Ivanovo Region<\/p>\n
Situation: defendant charged with holding “street religious activity in the form of a public religious service” (with Kulikova \u2013 see below) at the entrance to a market and acquainting passers-by with Jehovah’s Witness beliefs by means of “group picketing” with another woman, ie. displaying brochures and leaflets on an information stand (“visual agitation”) \u2013 judge concludes that defendant was only conversing with fellow Jehovah’s Witness in passing<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
5. 10 March<\/p>\n
Name: G.V. Kulikova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Teykovo District Court, Ivanovo Region<\/p>\n
Situation: defendant charged with holding “street religious activity in the form of a public religious service” (with Vorobyova \u2013 see above) at the entrance to a market and acquainting passers-by with Jehovah’s Witness beliefs by means of “group picketing” with another woman, ie. displaying brochures and leaflets on an information stand (“visual agitation”)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 7 May 2015, Ivanovo Regional Court<\/p>\n
6. 13 March<\/p>\n
Name: T.M Khalina<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Birobidzhan District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with using an information stand in a in pedestrian zone to distribute Jehovah’s Witness literature, in a place “not intended for public religious events”; the defendant “openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, and created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there”<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 22 April 2015, Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region; prosecutor’s protest against overturning of verdict unsuccessful \u2013 13 July 2015, Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region<\/p>\n
7. 17 March<\/p>\n
Name: G.V. Makarova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Staraya Russa District Court, Novgorod Region<\/p>\n
Situation: display of Jehovah’s Witness literature on information stand with G.I. Maksimova (see below) interpreted as picket; sentenced to half of minimum fine on account of age and financial situation<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 13 April 2015, Novgorod Regional Court<\/p>\n
8. 17 March<\/p>\n
Name: G.I. Maksimova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Staraya Russa District Court, Novgorod Region<\/p>\n
Situation: display of Jehovah’s Witness literature on information stand with G.V. Makarova (see below) interpreted as picket; sentenced to half of minimum fine on account of age and financial situation<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 13 April 2015, Novgorod Regional Court<\/p>\n
9. 25 March<\/p>\n
Name: Pavel Novikov<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000<\/p>\n
Court: Railway District Court, Oryol<\/p>\n
Situation: Evangelical Christian-Baptist charged with organising a public worship service, attended by about 30 people in a playground in the yard of a block of flats \u2013 claimed he was not the organiser but joined the event in passing, there was no violation of public order, and no citizens present were offended or complained; fellow Baptists testified in court that he was not the organiser, but that the event had taken place spontaneously \u2013 police officers (summoned by the janitor to a “conflict situation”) testified otherwise<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 24 April 2015, Oryol Regional Court<\/p>\n
10. 25 March<\/p>\n
Name: I.V. Zebreva<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Novocherkassk City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful group picketing; witness claimed that, with another woman, the defendant stood outside a shopping centre offering Jehovah’s Witness literature and invited him to a church service; defendant claimed that she had not pursued “any of the aims of a public event”; judge cites December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling but concludes that it does not apply to this case because the “event” was “conducted in a public place (the street)”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 18 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
11. 27 March<\/p>\n
Name: M.S. Churkina<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Railway District Court, Rostov-on-Don<\/p>\n
Situation: with Yu. S. Svetlakova (see below), charged with unlawful “group picketing” for using information stand to display Jehovah’s Witness literature in a pedestrian alleyway<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 6 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
12. 27 March<\/p>\n
Name: Yu. S. Svetlakova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Railway District Court, Rostov-on-Don<\/p>\n
Situation: with M.S. Churkina (see above), charged with unlawful “group picketing” for using information stand to display Jehovah’s Witness literature in a pedestrian alleyway<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 6 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
13. 1 April<\/p>\n
Name: I.I. Kolchyova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Krasnodar<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding picket near a pedestrian underpass at crossroads for displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on a stand; judge concludes that there is no evidence that this constituted a picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
14. 10 April<\/p>\n
Name: Yevgeny Galitsky<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: October District Court, Orsk, Orenburg Region<\/p>\n
Situation: held a Protestant gathering on the theme “Life after life. The secret of saving your soul” in accommodation rented for the purpose, at which “the free expression and formation of opinion on the question of the meaning of religion and the Lord God in human life” took place; judge concludes that this did not threaten national security or require health and safety measures<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
15. 21 April<\/p>\n
Name: B.V. Bezdenezhnykh<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Yoshkar-Ola City Court, Mari- El Republic<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with “unsanctioned group picketing…aimed at the dissemination and popularisation of his beliefs among the population”; with fellow Jehovah’s Witness Medvedkov (see below), defendant was sitting beside an information stand with religious literature<\/p>\n
Appeal: reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles \u2013 22 June 2015, Supreme Court of the Mari-El Republic<\/p>\n
16. 22 April<\/p>\n
Name: A.S. Yevdokimova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Krasnodar<\/p>\n
Situation: for distribution of Jehovah’s Witness literature, charged with holding picket near pedestrian underpass at crossroads in Krasnodar; judge concludes that “in the case materials there is no evidence that the purpose of A.S. Yevdokimova’s action was the formation of any kind of opinion or the making of demands on various political, economic, social and cultural issues in the country” and therefore it was not a picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
17. 27 April<\/p>\n
Name: A.G. Medvedkov<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Yoshkar-Ola City Court, Mari-El Republic<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with “unsanctioned group picketing…aimed at the dissemination and popularisation of his beliefs among the population”; with fellow Jehovah’s Witness, Bezdenezhnykh (see above), defendant was sitting beside an information stand with religious literature<\/p>\n
Appeal: reclassified as Part 5 and fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles \u2013 24 June 2015, Supreme Court of the Mari-El Republic<\/p>\n
18. 27 April<\/p>\n
Name: Ye. I. Tisenkov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Gai City Court, Orenburg Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising a public religious event \u2013 Jehovah’s Witness “Evening of Remembrance of the Death of Christ” \u2013 in rented accommodation without notifying the authorities; judge cites December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and concludes no notification required<\/p>\n
Appeal: by prosecution, unsuccessful \u2013 19 June 2015, Orenburg Regional Court<\/p>\n
19. 8 May<\/p>\n
Name: Jehovah’s Witness community “South, Abakan”<\/p>\n
Fine: 70,000<\/p>\n
Court: Abakan City Court, Republic of Khakassiya<\/p>\n
Situation: distribution of literature at bus stop outside station, “of a picket-like character; “to draw attention to particular issues of a religious nature, [they] publicly expressed opinions about the doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with the use of visual aids: posters, banners, with inscriptions”; “openly demonstrating their religious beliefs in a place providing for the massive presence of people \u2013 created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 1 July, Supreme Court of the Khakassiya Republic<\/p>\n
20. 13 May<\/p>\n
Name: O.Sh. Tretyakova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: October District Court, Arkhangelsk<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with “group picketing” without notification for displaying religious literature on a stand in the street \u2013 accosted by police while speaking to acquaintance Golovenkin (see below); points out that “religious service” is not related to public events and requires no notice to be given; judge concludes that there is no evidence for a group picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
21. 14 May<\/p>\n
Name: A. Yu. Golovenkin<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: October District Court, Arkhangelsk<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with “group picketing” without notification, but claims he only stopped in by chance on seeing his fellow Jehovah’s Witness O.Sh. Tretyakova, who was displaying religious literature on a stand in the street; also points out that “religious service” is not related to public events and requires no notice to be given; judge concludes that defendant bore no responsibility for the “event”<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
22. 20 May<\/p>\n
Name: Z.U. Khamitzayeva<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz, Judge Zaurbek Tsagolov<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful “group picket” for distributing Jehovah’s Witness literature from information stand at public transport stop \u2013 with S.N. Khuadonova (see below)<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 25 June, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania\u00a0<\/p>\n
23. 26 May<\/p>\n
Name: A.V. Neyfeld<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Tomsk, Judge R.A. Zaynulin<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising groups of 2-3 Baptists who handed out New Testaments and psalters to interested passers-by in New Cathedral Square in Tomsk; interpreted as pickets involving more than one person and fewer than 30 metres apart<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
24. 1 June<\/p>\n
Name: A.A. Aliyev<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Birobidzhan District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising Jehovah’s Witness worship meeting in restaurant without notification<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 17 July, Court of the Jewish Autonomous Region<\/p>\n
25. 2 June<\/p>\n
Name: S.N. Khuadonova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz\u00a0<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful “group picket” for distributing Jehovah’s Witness literature from information stand at public transport stop \u2013 with Z.U Khamitzayeva (see above)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, 23 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania<\/p>\n
26. 2 June<\/p>\n
Name: A.G. Avakimova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with distributing Jehovah’s Witness literature with M.N. Meladze (see below), from information stand at public transport stop; interpreted as picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, 23 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania\u00a0<\/p>\n
27. 4 June<\/p>\n
Name: M.N. Meladze<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladikavkaz<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful “group picket” for distributing Jehovah’s Witness literature from information stand at public transport stop (with A.G. Avakimova \u2013 see above)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 23 July 2015, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania<\/p>\n
28. 5 June<\/p>\n
Name: N.V. Morozova<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown amount<\/p>\n
Court: Volgodonsk District Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: with T.N. Lyashenko (see below), used two wheeled information stands to display Jehovah’s Witness literature in a public garden outside a hotel; interpreted as picket despite lawyer’s arguments to the contrary (no “object” being picketed, no relation between message and “object”); local resident called prosecutor’s office with an anonymous tip-off<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 27 July, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
29. 8 June<\/p>\n
Name: T.N. Lyashenko<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Volgodonsk District Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: with N.V. Morozova (see above), used two wheeled information stands to display Jehovah’s Witness literature in a public garden outside a hotel; interpreted as picket despite lawyer’s arguments to the contrary (no “object” being picketed, no relation between message and “object”); local resident called prosecutor’s office with an anonymous tip-off<\/p>\n
Appeal: case returned for re-examination because fine imposed not allowed under Part 2 \u2013 14 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted again on retrial and fined 20,000 Roubles \u2013 29 July 2015, Volgodonsk District Court; subsequent appeal unsuccessful \u2013 28 September 2015<\/p>\n
30. 8 June<\/p>\n
Name: D. D. Tissen<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted<\/p>\n
Court: Tashla District Court, Orenburg region, Judge Ye. G. Porotko<\/p>\n
Situation: group of seven German citizens with “an non-traditional doctrine of God” sang hymns, gave sermons, read poetry and handed out literature outside mobile phone shop after registering at local migration office; purpose of visit was to proselytise; Tissen had helped them with their documents but was not a member of the group; judge concluded that actions did not constitute a demonstration<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
31. 24 June<\/p>\n
Name: Administrative Centre of Jehovah’s Witnesses<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Factory District Court, Oryol, Judge Yelena Yendovitskaya<\/p>\n
Situation: held service for 2100 people in rented accommodation at shopping and leisure centre; event held on yearly basis with no threat to public order; judge acknowledges 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and October 2014 amendments in deciding the event required no notification<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
32. 29 June<\/p>\n
Name: S.L. Yerkin<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Magadan City Court<\/p>\n
Situation: held Jehovah’s Witness event “Evening of Remembrance of the Death of Jesus Christ” in non-residential property with no notification; did not identify himself visibly as organiser; argued that event did not inconvenience local population as was held indoors in non-residential property; judge acknowledges 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and October 2014 amendments<\/p>\n
Appeal: by police, unsuccessfully; 6 August, Magadan Regional Court<\/p>\n
33. 1 July<\/p>\n
Name: K.O. Tutinova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Elista City Court, Kalmykiya<\/p>\n
Situation: with Fioktistova (see below), held a “public worship service” aimed at the popularisation of Jehovah’s Witness beliefs using an information stand to display religious literature in a pedestrian zone; police took both women and four passers-by for questioning at police station; defendant “demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which, considering the mass presence of people, she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens”<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 4 August, Supreme Court of Kalmykiya<\/p>\n
34. 1 July<\/p>\n
Name: O.A. Fioktistova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted<\/p>\n
Court: Elista City Court, Kalmykiya<\/p>\n
Situation: with Tutinova (see above), Jehovah’s Witness charged with organising “public worship”, “as well as actions to inform the public and passers-by of features of the faith…using a metal luggage cart equipped with a stand”; defendant claimed that she was simply offering literature and answering questions from interested passers-by, not holding a public event; judge acknowledges 2012 Constitutional Court ruling: “The mere fact that O.A. Fioktistova was spreading her religious beliefs by offering free non-prohibited Bible literature…by purpose, form and procedure does not correspond to the concept of a public event”<\/p>\n
Appeal: by local Justice Ministry department, unsuccessful \u2013 4 August, Supreme Court of Republic of Kalmykiya<\/p>\n
35. 8 July<\/p>\n
Name: Aleksandr Korepanov<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Mozhga District Court, Udmurtiya<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising a Society for Krishna Consciousness procession without notification (same incident as 9 November case below); defendant claimed he was not the organiser and that the procession was a “simultaneous mass movement of citizens in a public place”, not a “public event”, as it consisted of the chanting of mantras and Indian dance, not expression of political\/social opinions or demands<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
36. 10 July<\/p>\n
Name: O.A. Bokova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Ryazan<\/p>\n
Situation: with fellow Jehovah’s Witness T.V. Son, charged with holding a “picket” at a public transport stop, ie. used information stand to display brochures; defendant argued that since her actions did not constitute a public event she was not obliged to inform the authorities; judge concluded that she “openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, by which she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to 5000 Roubles, 6 August, Ryazan Regional Court<\/p>\n
37. 9 July<\/p>\n
Name: T.V. Son<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Ryazan<\/p>\n
Situation: with fellow Jehovah’s Witness O.A. Bokova, charged with holding a “picket” at a public transport stop, ie. used information stand to display brochures; defendant argued that since her actions did not constitute a public event she was not obliged to inform the authorities; judge concluded she “openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, by which she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to 5000 Roubles \u2013 27 August 2015, Ryazan Regional Court<\/p>\n
38. 24 July<\/p>\n
Name: T.V. Ganzha<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Industrial District Court, Perm, Judge Aleksandr Basev<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising “picket” without notification, ie. distribution of Jehovah’s Witness literature with a companion (Olga Belokon \u2013 see Part 5 list), “in a public place not for public religious activities, at an underpass \u2013 that is, openly demonstrating their religious beliefs in a place providing for the massive presence of people \u2013 created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of the citizens there”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 2 September, Perm Regional Court, Judge Viktor Nyashin<\/p>\n
39. 3 August<\/p>\n
Name: Dmitry Moskvichyov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 6 days’ detention<\/p>\n
Court: Magadan City Court<\/p>\n
Situation: charged (with Kryukov \u2013 see below) with organising a “group picket” of five people outside a city centre shop \u2013 they performed religious chants, played Indian instruments, and handed out Society for Krishna Consciousness literature to passers-by<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
40. 3 August<\/p>\n
Name: Nikolai Kryukov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 6 days’ detention<\/p>\n
Court: Magadan City Court<\/p>\n
Situation: charged (with Moskvichyov \u2013 see above) with organising a “group picket” of five people outside a city centre shop \u2013 they performed religious chants, played Indian instruments, and handed out Society for Krishna Consciousness literature to passers-by<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
41. 11 August<\/p>\n
Name: A.A. Aliyev, chair of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Birobidzhan<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Birobidzhan District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region<\/p>\n
Situation: organised public worship service at “Builder” sports complex in city park without notification; Aliyev denied being the organiser, but also pointed out that the event presented no danger to public order or health and safety as it took place in closed premises rented for the purpose; member of the public reported unattended bag to police and security forces and firefighters were called; judge cites amendment of 22 October 2014 and 2012 Constitutional Court ruling and concludes that no offence was committed<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
42. 17 August<\/p>\n
Name: S.M. Kiselyova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Khamovnichesky District Court, Moscow<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising unlawful “group picket” of Falun Gong adherents, protesting against persecution of Falun Gong in China; defendant claimed that her acquaintance had passed by chance and only helped her put up a banner<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 8 October 2015, Moscow City Court\t<\/p>\n
43. 18 August<\/p>\n
Name: Ahmed Tahrir Hefdi\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 on account of insignificance of the offence<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: held public worship service (Islamic namaz) involving 35 people without notifying the authorities \u2013 defendant explained that hall of residence where they usually prayed was undergoing cleaning, and argued that prayers had taken place behind a cafe in an otherwise deserted spot, disturbing nobody \u2013 found guilty but not fined because of repentance and minor nature of the offence\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
44. 18 August<\/p>\n
Name: Wamid Tahrir Hefdi<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 on account of insignificance of the offence<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: held public worship service (Islamic namaz) involving 35 people without notifying the authorities \u2013 defendant explained that hall of residence where they usually prayed was undergoing cleaning, and argued that prayers had taken place behind a cafe in an otherwise deserted spot, disturbing nobody \u2013 found guilty but not fined because of repentance and minor nature of the offence\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
45. 18 August<\/p>\n
Name: M.T. Popov<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: October District Court, Rostov-on-Don<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising unlawful “group picket” with amplification equipment, “religious paraphernalia” and the distribution of religious literature; involved 15 people from the Don Society of Krishna Consciousness<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 7 October, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
46. 24 August<\/p>\n
Name: N.V. Lai<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladivostok<\/p>\n
Situation: Falun Gong adherent conducted single-person picket at submarine memorial (in separate incident from those below) using amplification equipment and Chinese-language placards; judge held that she should have submitted notification \u2013 appeal judge rules that notification was not required, but use of amplification was unlawful<\/p>\n
Appeal: reclassified as Part 1 and fine reduced, Primorye Regional Court; supervisory appeal submitted to Primorye Regional Court on 19 April 2016 \u2013 no hearing date set<\/p>\n
47. 24 August<\/p>\n
Name: N.V. Lai<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladivostok<\/p>\n
Situation: Falun Gong adherent charged with holding unlawful “group picket” at submarine memorial “with the use of visual agitation, leaflets, megaphones, and placards in a foreign language” to inform Chinese tourists of the persecution of the Falun Gong movement in China; defendant claimed she thought notification was unnecessary because materials were in Chinese and she and her companion (R.A. Kan \u2013 see below) were standing separately \u2013 judge concluded that use of amplification was also a violation of the Demonstrations Law<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 Primorye Regional Court; supervisory appeal submitted to Primorye Regional Court on 19 April 2016 \u2013 no hearing date set<\/p>\n
48. 24 August<\/p>\n
Name: R.A. Kan<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Vladivostok<\/p>\n
Situation: Falun Gong adherent charged with holding unlawful “group picket” at submarine memorial “with the use of visual agitation, leaflets, megaphones, and placards in a foreign language” to inform Chinese tourists of the persecution of the Falun Gong movement in China; defendant claimed she thought notification was unnecessary because materials were in Chinese and she and her companion (N.V. Lai \u2013 see above) were standing separately \u2013 judge concluded that use of amplification was also a violation of the Demonstrations Law<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, but fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles, Primorye Regional Court; supervisory appeal submitted to Primorye Regional Court on 19 April 2016 \u2013 no hearing date set<\/p>\n
49. 27 August<\/p>\n
Name: T.I. Gogoleva<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding an unlawful “group picket” (with K.V Lukina \u2013 see below) for using information stand to display Jehovah’s Witness literature “in a public place”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to unknown amount \u2013 21 October 2015, Voronezh Regional Court<\/p>\n
50. 27 August<\/p>\n
Name: K.V. Lukina<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding an unlawful “group picket” (with T.I. Gogoleva \u2013 see above) for using information stand to display Jehovah’s Witness literature “in a public place”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, but reclassified to Part 5 and fine reduced to unknown amount \u2013 21 October 2015, Voronezh Regional Court<\/p>\n
51. 3 September<\/p>\n
Name: L.A. Chernova<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding unlawful “group picket” with fellow Jehovah’s Witness (A.A. Yagodnitsina \u2013 see below), ie. used information stand to display free religious literature, “in a public place, not intended for public religious events”; defendant “openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place, where the mass presence of people may be envisaged, thereby creating a risk of disturbance to public order associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful but reclassified from Part 2 to Part 5 and fine reduced to 5000 Roubles \u2013 3 November 2015, Voronezh Regional Court<\/p>\n
52. 8 September<\/p>\n
Name: A.V. Dryannikh<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Kirov District Court, Krasnoyarsk<\/p>\n
Situation: with G.N. Konina (who was not charged), distributed Jehovah’s Witness literature and CDs from stand at bus stop \u2013 interpreted by police as unsanctioned picket; judge concluded that “There are no evidence in the materials of the case that A.V. Dryannikh conducted a public event, that is, expressed and formed opinions or made demands on various issues of political, economic, social and cultural life of the country or foreign policy issues, within the scope of the Demonstrations Law”<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
53. 14 September<\/p>\n
Name: G.D. Malyukova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Syzran City Court, Samara region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness (with T.D. Artyukhina \u2013 see below), distributed free religious literature from wheeled stand \u2013 did not seek “permission” because it was not a picket; judge concluded that “Since the purpose of picketing, within the meaning of the law, is to draw attention to the picketed object, or to a particular problem, the actions of citizen Malyukova .. trying to attract the attention of the public by means of visual agitation, are a public event – a picket”<\/p>\n
Appeal: reclassified as Part 5 and fine reduced to 10,000 Roubles \u2013 8 December, Samara Regional Court<\/p>\n
54. 17 September<\/p>\n
Name: S.A. Lashko<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Kuibyshev District Court, Omsk<\/p>\n
Situation: with fellow Jehovah’s Witness I.V. Korobelnikova (see below), used an information stand to display religious literature at a city centre bus stop and answered questions from passers-by; judge interpreted this as an unlawful “group picket”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 13 October, Omsk Regional Court; unsuccessful supervisory appeal \u2013 26 January 2016, Omsk Regional Court<\/p>\n
55. 21 September<\/p>\n
Name: G.N. Kalasheva<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Kominternovsky District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness “expressed her opinion…using an information stand with the inscriptions \u2018What does the Bible teach?’ and \u2018Take for free, read in your own language'” and handed out literature and answered questions from passers-by \u2013 interpreted as picket; judge concludes that Fedosov was alone and therefore not breaking the law (though police claimed she was with Lyudmila Dolgova \u2013 see below)<\/p>\n
Appeal: by anti-extremism police, unsuccessful \u2013 11 November, Voronezh Regional Court<\/p>\n
56. 21 September<\/p>\n
Name: Lyudmila Dolgova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted<\/p>\n
Court: Kominternovsky District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness “expressed her opinion…using an information stand with the inscriptions \u2018What does the Bible teach?’ and \u2018Take for free, read in your own language'” and handed out literature and answered questions from passers-by \u2013 interpreted as picket; judge concludes that Dolgova was alone and therefore not breaking the law (though police claimed she was with G.N. Kalasheva \u2013 see above)<\/p>\n
Appeal: anti-extremism police appeal unsuccessful \u2013 11 November, Voronezh Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
57. 23 September<\/p>\n
Name: T.D. Artyukhina<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Syzran City Court, Samara region, Judge E.N. Kosmina<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness (with G.D. Malyukova \u2013 see above) distributed free religious literature from wheeled stand \u2013 did not seek “permission” because it was not a picket; judge concluded that “Since the purpose of picketing, within the meaning of the law, is to draw attention to the picketed object, or to a particular problem, the actions of citizen Artyukhina…trying to attract the attention of the public by means of visual agitation, are a public event – a picket”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 24 November, Samara Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
58. 23 September<\/p>\n
Name: M.V. Zakhvatayeva<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Tulun City Court, Irkutsk region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness (with V.V. Sharabanova \u2013 see below), set up information stand with religious literature and slogan “Is the end of suffering coming?” at bus station; defendant asked to have the hearing postponed in order to arrange legal assistance and because she felt unwell, since she was still in shock \u2013 this was refused as court considered enough time had been available, from 8pm on 22 September to 2pm on 23 September; judge concluded that “Since the purpose of picketing, within the meaning of the law, is to draw attention to the picketed object, or to a particular problem, M.V. Zakhvatayeva’s actions, trying to attract the attention of the public by means of visual agitation, are public event – a picket”; and that “the open demonstration of religious beliefs may annoy or give offense to those who profess a different religion or no religion, and if taking place outwith religious buildings or structures or specially designated places or premises, certain religious activities, by virtue of their mass nature \u2013 may prevent the normal operation of transport or public or non-governmental organizations”; “picket” held in an area of “intensive movement of pedestrians and traffic, which created danger to public order”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 18 November, Irkutsk Regional Court<\/p>\n
59. 24 September<\/p>\n
Name: V.V. Sharabanova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Tulun City Court, Irkutsk Region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with holding an unlawful “group picket” by displaying literature on a stand at a bus station (with M.V. Zakhvatayeva \u2013 see above)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 18 November, Irkutsk Regional Court<\/p>\n
60. 24 September<\/p>\n
Name: A.A. Yagodnitsina<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Voronezh<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding unlawful “group picket” with fellow Jehovah’s Witness (L.A. Chernova \u2013 see above), ie. used information stand to display free religious literature, “in a public place, not intended for public religious events”; defendant “openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place, where the mass presence of people may be envisaged, thereby creating a risk of disturbance to public order associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful but reclassified from Part 2 to Part 5, 17 November \u2013 Voronezh Regional Court<\/p>\n
61. 12 October<\/p>\n
Name: I.V. Korobelnikova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted (but convicted and fined 20,000 Roubles on retrial \u2013 see below)<\/p>\n
Court: Kuibyshev District Court, Omsk<\/p>\n
Situation: with fellow Jehovah’s Witness S.A. Lashko (see above), used an information stand to display religious literature at a city centre bus stop and answered questions from passers-by; original judge (different from Lashko’s) concluded that this constituted a “religious service” and thus did not require notification \u2013 retrial judge interpreted defendant’s actions as an unlawful “group picket”, as she “expressed her opinion with an information stand, upon which were placed religious pamphlets, ie. openly showed her religious beliefs in a place at which the mass presence of a wide range of people may be envisaged, which requires proper supervision by the public authorities…since, under certain circumstances, regardless of the intentions of organisers and participants, the potential risk of disturbance of public order, and, consequently, damage to the moral and physical health of citizens cannot be ruled out”<\/p>\n
Appeal: police appeal against acquittal successful; case sent for re-examination \u2013 10 November 2015, Omsk Regional Court; defendant convicted on re-trial \u2013 4 December 2015, Kuibyshev District Court; defendant’s subsequent appeal unsuccessful \u2013 29 December 2015, Omsk Regional Court<\/p>\n
62. 13 October<\/p>\n
Name: R. S-E. Khaduyev, Sakhalinsk Community of Muslims<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court, Sakhalin<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising a public religious service, involving 120 people, without notifying the authorities; according to police, this presented “the possibility of danger to public order, morality and health, both for the participants in religious activities, as well as third parties, requiring public authorities take measures to ensure public order, public safety and tranquility”; judge concluded that the absence of a clear description of the offence in the police report violated the accused’s right to a defence<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
63. 19 October<\/p>\n
Name: Guzel(?) Abliksanova<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Berezovsky District Court, Krasnoyarsk Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with organising an unlawful picket at a railway crossing by unspecified church group, using the slogan “Be good to people”; event involved five people (about ten were invited by SMS); defendant claimed she did not know notification was necessary; judge reduced fine because of defendant’s character, remorse, and financial position; also absence of negative consequences)<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
64. 23 October<\/p>\n
Name: A.E. Kalashnikov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Kameshkovo District Court, Vladimir region<\/p>\n
Situation: rented local House of Culture for Jehovah’s Witness service; judge concluded that “The need to notify the competent public authorities or local authorities of such public religious activities and carry out other encumbrances established by legislation, by reason of the mere fact that the meeting is occurring outside places designated for the purpose, is illegal interference of the state in the sphere of freedom of conscience” \u2013 and cites October 2014 amendment to Religion Law on the free conduct of religious ceremonies in premises rented for the purpose, and December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
65. 9 November<\/p>\n
Name: Society of Krishna Consciousness of Izhevsk<\/p>\n
Fine: 70,000<\/p>\n
Court: Mozhga District Court, Udmurt Republic<\/p>\n
Situation: Society for Krishna Consciousness charged with holding a procession without notification of the authorities (they had submitted notification only for Indian dance and singing with minimal amplification); case originally heard on 5 August at Industrial District Court, Izhevsk \u2013 this was overturned on 7 October by the Supreme Court of the Udmurt Republic for jurisdictional regions and sent for examination by a different court; alleged organiser Aleksandr Korepanov already convicted on 8 July (see above)<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 8 February 2016, Supreme Court of the Udmurt Republic<\/p>\n
66. 9 November<\/p>\n
Name: V.V. Lubyagina<\/p>\n
Fine: 20 hours’ community service<\/p>\n
Court: Sovietsk City Court, Kaliningrad Region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness; organised “street religious activity” with one other person (who was not charged) at a crossroads, using stand with religious literature; interpreted as group picket without notification<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 24 December, Kaliningrad Regional Court<\/p>\n
67. 12 November<\/p>\n
Name: V.Ya. Shestakova<\/p>\n
Fine: 20,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Gukovo City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: with three fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses (P.A. Petrova, A.I. Osychenko, L.V.Bosova \u2013 no evidence of charges against these people) used information stand to distribute literature in public place, interpreted as “group picket”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 27 January 2016, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
68. 23 November<\/p>\n
Name: S.V. Safiyulin<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Tolyatti, Samara Region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness accused of holding unsanctioned picket for handing out literature from information stand and answering questions from passers-by; judge concludes this does not qualify as a public event under the definitions provided in law<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
69. 8 December<\/p>\n
Name: L.V. Klimenko<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles (reduced because first-time offence and “given the nature and degree of public danger of the offence committed)<\/p>\n
Court: Shakhty City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: as part of anti-extremism monitoring, two Jehovah’s Witnesses charged with holding unlawful “group picket” for distributing literature from information stand outside park entrance; defendant claimed that she was photographed with L.G. Suleva (see below) only by chance as they spoke in passing, standing opposite each other \u2013 defendant had another stand on the opposite side of the street<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, 23 March 2016, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
70. 8 December<\/p>\n
Name: L.G. Suleva<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles (reduced because first-time offence and “given the nature and degree of public danger of the offence committed”)<\/p>\n
Court: Shakhty City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: as part of anti-extremism monitoring, two Jehovah’s Witnesses charged with holding unsanctioned picket for distributing literature from information stand outside park entrance; defendant claimed she was there alone and was photographed with L.V. Klimenko only by chance as they spoke in passing, standing opposite each other \u2013 Klimenko had another stand on the opposite side of the street; Suleva’s claim that she gave evidence to prosecutors under pressure deemed “far-fetched and unfounded”, and the fact that she refused to sign her statements deemed not to invalidate their contents, as she made them in the presence of witnesses\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful, 15 March 2016, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
71. 16 December<\/p>\n
Name: O.V. Kozlova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Khabarovsk Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with holding unlawful “group picket” outside shop with fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses (I.V. Parkhomuk \u2013 see below), “the purpose of which was the formation of opinion and expression of religious orientation” with use of “graphic materials”; defendant claimed they answered questions from passers-by who approached of their own accord and caused no disturbance of public order or blocking of right of way; detained by police after a woman photographed them; judge concluded that “The need to notify the competent public authorities of such public religious activities and carry out other obligations established by legislation, on the strength of the mere fact that the meeting is occurring outside places designated for the purpose, is illegal interference of the state in the sphere of freedom of conscience”; judge refers to December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
72. 16 December<\/p>\n
Name: I.V. Parkhomuk<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Central District Court, Komsomolsk-on-Amur<\/p>\n
Situation: Situation: charged with holding unlawful “group picket” outside shop with fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses (O.V. Kozlova \u2013 see above), “the purpose of which was the formation of opinion and expression of religious orientation” with use of “graphic materials”; defendant claimed they answered questions from passers-by who approached of their own accord and caused no disturbance of public order or blocking of right of way; detained by police after a woman photographed them; judge concluded that “The need to notify the competent public authorities of such public religious activities and carry out other obligations established by legislation, on the strength of the mere fact that the meeting is occurring outside places designated for the purpose, is illegal interference of the state in the sphere of freedom of conscience”; judge refers to December 2012 Constitutional Court ruling<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
73. 25 December<\/p>\n
Name: M.V. Chernyshova<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Zelenogradsk District Court, Kaliningrad Region<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness charged with holding picket without notification at bus stop, distributing free literature from information stand, and explaining beliefs to interested passers-by; judge rules that a single-person picket does not require notification and that such an activity does not require safety measures, therefore no notification necessary<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
Known 2015 Article 20.2, Part 5 Cases<\/p>\n
1. 25 February<\/p>\n
Name: A.L. Redkov\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted<\/p>\n
Court: Serpukhov City Court, Moscow Region\u00a0<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with “picketing to express an opinion on the Bible” with information stand displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on pedestrian bridge outside station; judge concluded that neither the content nor the location of the action constituted a threat to public safety<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
2. 5 March<\/p>\n
Name: A.E. Chermnykh\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: 15,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful picket (with G.R. Sokolova \u2013 see below), ie. displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on an information stand at a crossroads<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 18 May 2015, Primorye Regional Court<\/p>\n
3. 5 March\u00a0<\/p>\n
Name: G.R. Sokolova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: 15,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful “group picket” (with A.E. Chermnykh \u2013 see above), ie. displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on an information stand at a crossroads<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 28 April 2015, Primorye Regional Court<\/p>\n
4. 25 March<\/p>\n
Name: O.G. Gorshkova\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Novocherkassk City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an “unsanctioned public event” with fellow Jehovah’s Witness I.V. Zebreva (see Part 2 list), ie. used information stand to display free religious literature in the street); judge mentions 2012 Constitutional Court ruling but concludes it has no bearing on the incident<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 18 May 2015, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
5. 12 May<\/p>\n
Name: L.G. Suleva<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles \u2013 but acquitted at re-trial (see below)<\/p>\n
Court: Shakhta City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful “group picketing” for displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on a stand outside a park entrance on a pedestrianised street (with L.V. Klimenko \u2013 see below); investigated by prosecutors initially under Extremism Law as brochures bore the blocked jw.org website address<\/p>\n
Appeal: case returned for re-examination \u2013 14 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant acquitted at re-trial \u2013 27 August 2015, Shakhta City Court<\/p>\n
6. 12 May<\/p>\n
Name: L.V. Klimenko<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles \u2013 but acquitted at re-trial (see below)<\/p>\n
Court: Shakhta City Court, Rostov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful “group picketing” for displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on a stand outside a park entrance on a pedestrianised street (with L.G. Suleva \u2013 see above); investigated by prosecutors initially under Extremism Law as brochures bore the blocked jw.org website address<\/p>\n
Appeal: case returned for re-examination \u2013 14 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant acquitted at re-trial \u2013 27 August 2015, Shakhta City Court<\/p>\n
7. 18 May<\/p>\n
Name: A.I. Biganova<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz<\/p>\n
Situation: together with three others (Abayeva, Tsamakayev, Iluridze \u2013 see below), had Jehovah’s Witness literature on moveable stand and answered questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of “Vladikavkaz” hotel; interpreted as picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 2 September, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania<\/p>\n
8. 20 May<\/p>\n
Name: Z.N. Abayeva<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz<\/p>\n
Situation: together with three others (Biganova, Tsamakayev, Iluridze \u2013 see above and below), had Jehovah’s Witness literature on moveable stand and answered questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of “Vladikavkaz” hotel; interpreted as picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 2 September, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania<\/p>\n
9. 2 June<\/p>\n
Name: R. Kh. Tsamakayev<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz<\/p>\n
Situation: together with three others (Biganova, Abayeva, Iluridze \u2013 see above and below), had Jehovah’s Witness literature on moveable stand and answered questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of “Vladikavkaz” hotel; interpreted as picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 24 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania<\/p>\n
10. 8 June<\/p>\n
Name: N.V. Kirillov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Proletarian District Court, Rostov-on-Don<\/p>\n
Situation: one of three Baptists (see Rogachyov and Leyn, below) “preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ with the use of visual aids, namely religious publications distributed free of charge”; interpreted by police as picket, but not by district court judge<\/p>\n
Appeal: by police, unsuccessful \u2013 14 July, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
11. 9 June<\/p>\n
Name: L.N. Leyn<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted (but convicted and fined unknown amount at re-trial \u2013 see below)<\/p>\n
Court: Proletarian District Court, Rostov-on-Don<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful picketing with two fellow Baptists (see Rogachyov and Kirillov), “preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ with the use of visual aids, namely religious publications distributed free of charge” in the vicinity of a school, in violation of the Demonstrations Law; original judge ruled this was not a picket \u2013 retrial judge upheld police claim<\/p>\n
Appeal: police appeal against acquittal \u2013 successful; case sent for re-examination, 22 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted on re-trial, 7 August 2015, Proletarian District Court; defendant’s subsequent appeal unsuccessful \u2013 8 October 2015, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
12. 9 June<\/p>\n
Name: E.A. Rogachyov<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted (but convicted and fined 5000 Roubles after re-trials \u2013 see below)<\/p>\n
Court: Proletarian District Court, Rostov-on-Don<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with unlawful picketing with two fellow Baptists (Leyn and Kirillov \u2013 see above), “preaching the teachings of Jesus Christ with the use of visual aids, namely religious publications distributed free of charge” in the vicinity of a school, in violation of the Demonstrations Law; original judge ruled this was not a picket \u2013 retrial judges upheld police claim<\/p>\n
Appeal: police appeal against acquittal \u2013 successful; case sent for re-examination, 22 July 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted on re-trial \u2013 7 August 2015, Proletarian District Court; at defendant’s subsequent appeal, case again sent for re-examination \u2013 20 October 2015, Rostov Regional Court; defendant convicted again at second re-trial \u2013 20 November 2015; defendant’s subsequent appeal unsuccessful \u2013 26 January 2016, Rostov Regional Court<\/p>\n
13. 15 June<\/p>\n
Name: Artyom Chumbayev<\/p>\n
Fine: 15,000\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in an unlawful “group picket” of three Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (no evidence of charges against others) distributing religious literature from a stand at a crossroads with a sign reading “Hare Krishna”<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
14. 16 June<\/p>\n
Name: A.D. Iluridze<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladikavkaz<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful “group picket” for displaying Jehovah’s Witness literature on moveable stand and answering questions from passers-by, opposite entrance of “Vladikavkaz” hotel, together with three others (Biganova, Abayeva, Tsamakayev \u2013 see above)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 23 July, Supreme Court of North Ossetia-Alania<\/p>\n
15. 26 June<\/p>\n
Name: O.D. Kudyasheva<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Kirov<\/p>\n
Situation: took part in distribution of Jehovah’s Witness literature from information stand on pavement at crossroads; interpreted as picket involving more than one person; approached and recorded by plainclothes officer after call from member of the public; with G.A. Klabukova (see below)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 13 August, Kirov Regional Court<\/p>\n
16. 26 June<\/p>\n
Name: G.A. Klabukova<\/p>\n
Fine: 3000<\/p>\n
Court: Lenin District Court, Kirov<\/p>\n
Situation: took part in distribution of Jehovah’s Witness literature from information stand on pavement at crossroads, with O.D. Kudyasheva (see above); interpreted as picket involving more than one person; approached and recorded by plainclothes officer after call from member of the public; “Klabukova openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people may be envisaged \u2013 that is, in conditions which require the adoption of measures to ensure public order and the security of the participants of the religious activities and other citizens; there was a danger of disruption of public order, associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 13 August, Kirov Regional Court<\/p>\n
17. 10 July<\/p>\n
Name: V.G. Khimich<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye<\/p>\n
Situation: distributing Jehovah’s Witness literature outside mini-market from stand marked “Would you like to study the Bible?”; interpreted as picket \u2013 but judge concluded that it was a one-person picket which does not require notification; originally found guilty in magistrate’s court No. 66 \u2013 verdict overturned at district court on 8 July and sent for examination at district level<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
18. 27 July<\/p>\n
Name: Olga Belokon<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Industrial District Court, Perm<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful “group picket”, ie. distribution of Jehovah’s Witness literature with a companion (T.V. Ganzha \u2013 see Part 2 list), “in a public place not for public religious activities, at an underpass \u2013 that is, openly demonstrating their religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people may be envisaged, creating the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 10 September, Perm Regional Court<\/p>\n
19. 17 August<\/p>\n
Name: T.V. Dubenets<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Khamovnichesky District Court, Moscow<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in Falun Gong “group picket” protesting against persecution of the movement’s adherents in China \u2013 defendant’s claim that he came upon an acquaintance by chance and only helped her put up a banner, before practising Qigong nearby, was not accepted by court (see S.M. Kiselyova, 17 August, Part 2 list)<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 8 October 2015, Moscow City Court<\/p>\n
20. 31 August<\/p>\n
Name: N.V. Lai<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Frunze District Court, Vladivostok<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with disturbing public order and disturbing passers-by including Chinese consular staff by gesticulating and shouting \u2013 held placard with Chinese script and handed out leaflets about the Falun Gong spiritual movement; judge concluded that this did not violate the established procedure for a one-person picket<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
21. 8 September\u00a0<\/p>\n
Name: O.N. Nesterenko<\/p>\n
Fine: none \u2013 acquitted\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye<\/p>\n
Situation: Jehovah’s Witness; picket; information stand with religious literature “in the presence of passing citizens”; judge concludes that since she was alone, there was no violation<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
22. 17 September<\/p>\n
Name: A.A. Karatygin<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Krasnoarmeysk City Court, Saratov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: with Mezhennikov (see below), charged with participating in unlawful “group picket” in Lenin Street, telling passers-by about Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, using “visual agitation”, ie. information stand with free religious literature<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 25 November, Saratov Regional Court<\/p>\n
23. 21 September<\/p>\n
Name: M.N. Mezhennikov<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Krasnoarmeysk City Court, Saratov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: with Karatygin (see above), charged with participating in unlawful “group picket” in Lenin Street, telling passers-by about Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, using “visual agitation”, ie. information stand with free religious literature<\/p>\n
Appeal: successful \u2013 14 December, Saratov Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
24. 28 September<\/p>\n
Name: Oleg Kim<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Smidovich District Court, Jewish Autonomous Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful group “picket” of five Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (including Yevgeny Fedoreyev and Vladimir Gerasimenko \u2013 see below \u2013 and Dmitry Moskvichyov and Nikolai Kryukov \u2013 see Part 2 list) outside “Voskhod” shop in Magadan, singing songs, offering religious literature, and promoting their “healthy way of life based on spiritual faith”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
25. 12 October<\/p>\n
Name: Yevgeny Fedoreyev<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: October District Court, Amur Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful group “picket” of five Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (including Oleg Kim and Vladimir Gerasimenko \u2013 see above and below \u2013 and Dmitry Moskvichyov and Nikolai Kryukov \u2013 see Part 2 list) outside “Voskhod” shop in Magadan, singing songs, offering religious literature, and promoting their “healthy way of life based on spiritual faith”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
26. 14 October<\/p>\n
Name: Vladimir Gerasimenko<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Soviet District Court, Vladivostok<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful group “picket” of five Society of Krishna Consciousness adherents (including Yevgeny Fedoreyev and Oleg Kim \u2013 see above \u2013 and Dmitry Moskvichyov and Nikolai Kryukov \u2013 see Part 2 list) outside “Voskhod” shop in Magadan, singing songs, offering religious literature, and promoting their “healthy way of life based on spiritual faith”<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
27. 28 October<\/p>\n
Name: V.A. Tishchenko<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Ussuriysk District Court, Primorye<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful “group picket” distributing religious literature; “at the time of the offence, Tishchenko was not engaged in worship, prayer, or a religious rite, but was displaying and distributing religious literature in a crowded public place” \u2013 judge concluded this occurred outside the places permitted under the Religion Law, and was therefore governed wholly by Demonstrations Law and required notification<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 23 December, Primorye Regional Court<\/p>\n
28. 9 November<\/p>\n
Name: T.S. Shchennikova<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Kotelnich District Court, Kirov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful “group picket” of four Jehovah’s Witnesses (including Zyazeva \u2013 no evidence of charges against other two), using an information stand and “other forms of visual agitation” in a pedestrian zone to “raise awareness among the population and passers-by of the particularities of Jehovah’s Witness doctrine” \u2013 message apparently sent to police, which resulted in the four being taken to the police station “which indicated a negative reaction on the part of citizens and, hence, did not exclude the potential danger of public disorder…requiring adequate control by the public authorities”; the judge concluded that “the purpose of a picket is to draw attention not only to a picketed object, but also to a particular problem or a particular socio-social phenomena .. Shchennikova openly demonstrated her religious opinion in a place in which the mass presence of people may be envisaged”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 9 February 2016, Kirov Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
29. 11 November<\/p>\n
Name: A.V. Zyazeva<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000<\/p>\n
Court: Kotelnich District Court, Kirov Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in an unlawful “group picket” of four Jehovah’s Witnesses (including Shchennikova \u2013 see above \u2013 no evidence of charges against other two), using an information stand and “other forms of visual agitation” in a pedestrian zone to “raise awareness among the population and passers-by of the particularities of Jehovah’s Witness doctrine” \u2013 message apparently sent to police, which resulted in the four being taken to the police station “which indicated a negative reaction on the part of citizens and, hence, did not exclude the potential danger of public disorder…requiring adequate control by the public authorities”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 22 December, Kirov Regional Court\u00a0<\/p>\n
30. 11 November<\/p>\n
Name: L.R. Kagarmanova<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles<\/p>\n
Court: Sibai City Court, Bashkortostan<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful “group picket” with fellow Jehovah’s Witness (A.M. Sagidullina \u2013 see below), “expressing opinions and relationship to the Bible, familiarising citizens with the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses by displaying printed products of the religious organisation on a specially equipped stand” near fountain in Victory Park; FSB alerted prosecutor to plans “to attract new adepts” \u2013 prosecutor’s office official asked two passers-by to act as witnesses, and asked the women to go to the prosecutor’s office to give statements<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful but fine reduced to 5000 \u2013 23 December, Supreme Court of Bashkortostan<\/p>\n
31. 25 November<\/p>\n
Name: A.M. Sagidullina<\/p>\n
Fine: 5000<\/p>\n
Court: Sibai City Court, Bashkortostan, Judge L.Kh. Sufyanova<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in unlawful “group picket” with fellow Jehovah’s Witness (L.R. Kagarmanova \u2013 see above), “expressing opinions and relationship to the Bible, familiarising citizens with the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses by displaying printed products of the religious organisation on a specially equipped stand” near fountain in Victory Park; FSB alerted prosecutor to plans “to attract new adepts” \u2013 prosecutor’s office official asked two passers-by to act as witnesses, and asked the women to go to the prosecutor’s office to give statements<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 Supreme Court of Bashkortostan, 1 February 2016<\/p>\n
32. 26 November<\/p>\n
Name: N.V. Mironenko<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Prokhladny District Court, Kabardino-Balkariya<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation with fellow Jehovah’s Witness (Lyudmila Ponomarenko \u2013 see below) in “a public event in the form of picketing, setting up an information stand in a public place… distributing [religious] literature and publicly demonstrating their religious beliefs and opinions about religion, in violation of the established procedure [of conducting public events]”; also convicted by same court of distributing extremist literature, 6 November 2015<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
33. 26 November<\/p>\n
Name: Lyudmila Ponomarenko<\/p>\n
Fine: unknown<\/p>\n
Court: Prokhladny District Court, Kabardino-Balkariya<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation with fellow Jehovah’s Witness (N.V. Mironenko \u2013 see above) in “a public event in the form of picketing, setting up an information stand in a public place… distributing [religious] literature and publicly demonstrating their religious beliefs and opinions about religion, in violation of the established procedure [of conducting public events]”; also convicted by same court of distributing extremist literature, 6 November 2015<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n
34. 10 December<\/p>\n
Name: Ye. A. Lavrentyeva<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Zavolzhsky District Court, Tver<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participation in “group picket” with unnamed fellow Jehovah’s Witness (who was not charged), using an information stand to display brochures; defendant described this as “religious service”; judge concluded that she “openly demonstrated her religious beliefs in a place in which the mass presence of people is envisaged, by which she created the danger of public disorder associated with the infliction of damage to the moral and physical health of citizens”<\/p>\n
Appeal: unsuccessful \u2013 17 February 2016, Tver Regional Court<\/p>\n
35. 11 December<\/p>\n
Name: Ivan Tereshchuk<\/p>\n
Fine: 10,000 Roubles\u00a0<\/p>\n
Court: Korolyov City Court, Moscow Region<\/p>\n
Situation: charged with participating in a meeting for which no notification had been submitted \u2013 after attending a Pentecostal conference in Moscow, defendant and his wife walked to the Kamenny Bridge, where he “loudly told the people there about his life and how faith in God had transformed him”; defendant was taken away by police officers who said a complaint had been made<\/p>\n
Appeal: none<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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