A Russian court sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness

Six Years in Prison

Russian Court Sentences Woman to Six Years in Prison for Practicing Jehovah’s Witness Faith

Anna Safronova became the first female Jehovah’s Witness in Russia to be sentenced

Jehovah’s Witness to Penal Colony

On January 25, the Russian court in the Trusovsky District Court of Astrakhan sentenced Jehovah’s Witness Anna Safronova to six years in a penal colony for participating in Bible discussions, which the court deemed extremist. Judge Alexander Lepsky upheld the prosecutor’s request for actual imprisonment. Following the verdict, Safronova was taken into custody, according to a report from “Credo. Press”, citing sources within the Russian Jehovah’s Witness community.

Defendant’s Statement and Legal Grounds

In her final statement, Safronova declared, “A conscience taught by the Bible does not allow me to harm the state and its people. I have nothing to do with extremism. In fact, I am accused of believing in Jehovah God, praying to Him, talking to others about the Bible, and remaining a Jehovah’s Witness, which are rights guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution”.

As with other cases against Jehovah’s Witnesses, there were no identified victims or damages. Despite this, the court proceeded with its ruling, interpreting Safronova’s religious activities as a form of extremism under Russian law. The verdict has not yet taken effect and can be appealed.

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Personal Background and Previous Searches

Anna Safronova, a 56-year-old widow, is the primary caregiver for her elderly mother, who is over 80 years old. Their home has been subjected to two searches. The first occurred in the summer of 2020, during a widespread raid on 26 families of local believers, at which time Safronova was considered only a witness in the case of other Astrakhan Jehovah’s Witnesses accused of extremism. A year later, her home was searched again, and this time, she was named a suspect. She was subsequently interrogated and detained for one day before being released pending further investigation.

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Criminal Case and Charges

On May 28, 2021, Nikolai Banko, an investigator for especially important cases within the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Astrakhan Region, initiated a criminal case against Safronova under Part 2 of Article 282.2 and Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Russian Criminal Code. The charges accused her of participating in Jehovah’s Witness worship services and financing extremist activities.

The prosecution cited her engagement in Bible discussions via video calls, singing religious songs, and praying as evidence of her alleged criminal intent. Court documents revealed that Safronova had been under surveillance for months, with authorities monitoring her online activities and collecting testimonies from undercover informants.

Allegations of Financing Extremism

Authorities argue that Safronova’s role in collecting voluntary donations for fellow believers constituted financing extremism. These funds were used to cover communal expenses such as Zoom subscriptions, video cameras, and microphones for religious gatherings. Shortly after the charges were filed, her name was added to Rosfinmonitoring’s list of extremists, leading to the freezing of her bank accounts. This designation severely impacted her ability to support herself and her mother, leaving them financially vulnerable.

Harsh Sentences and Precedents

Safronova is the first female Jehovah’s Witness in Russia to receive such a lengthy prison sentence. Other female adherents of the faith have also faced legal repercussions, though their sentences have been somewhat shorter.

Two other women—Olga Ivanova from Astrakhan (3.5 years) and Valentina Baranovskaya from Abakan (2 years)—are currently imprisoned following similar convictions. Additionally, Olga Ponomareva and Anna Yermak from Krasnodar’s Kholmskaya village received in-absentia sentences of five and 4.5 years, respectively. Another woman, Tatyana Velizhanina from Sochi, remains in pre-trial detention awaiting a court ruling.

Legal experts and human rights organizations have condemned these actions as an overreach of anti-extremism laws, which they argue are being used to suppress religious minorities. Several international watchdog groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have called on the Russian government to cease its persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Background on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia

Jehovah’s Witnesses have faced increasing persecution in Russia since the Supreme Court ruling in April 2017 that classified the organization as extremist. This decision led to the dissolution of all 396 religious entities associated with the faith across the country. While the faith itself is not explicitly banned, law enforcement agencies have since initiated widespread criminal prosecutions against its members.

According to an October 28, 2021, ruling by the Supreme Court’s Plenum, “the divine services of Jehovah’s Witnesses, their joint performance of rites and ceremonies, in themselves do not constitute a crime under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, despite the liquidation of their legal entities.” However, in practice, local courts continue to convict believers under anti-extremism laws, often citing their participation in religious gatherings as criminal activity.

International Reactions and Human Rights Concerns

The sentencing of Anna Safronova has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations, religious freedom advocates, and international governments. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has repeatedly condemned Russia for its treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses, urging diplomatic pressure and sanctions against officials involved in religious persecution.

In a statement, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also denounced Russia’s actions, ruling that the 2017 ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses was unlawful and violated fundamental human rights. However, Russia’s withdrawal from the ECHR in 2022 has limited the court’s ability to enforce such decisions.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has expressed deep concern over the rising number of Jehovah’s Witnesses facing imprisonment in Russia, calling on authorities to adhere to international human rights agreements and cease their criminalization of peaceful religious practices.

Future Implications

Anna Safronova’s case underscores the continued persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia and raises concerns about broader religious freedom in the country. As more cases emerge, international pressure on the Russian government may intensify, potentially influencing future policy decisions. However, with state-controlled media largely supporting the crackdown on religious minorities, significant change remains uncertain.

Safronova’s legal team has vowed to appeal the verdict, though past cases suggest that overturning such rulings is highly unlikely. For now, she remains in custody, awaiting transfer to a penal colony, while her supporters and human rights organizations continue to advocate for her release and the broader protection of religious freedoms in Russia.

Suggested Sources

For further information on this case and related human rights concerns, refer to the following sources:

Andrei Lemeshonok – Scandals
https://credo.press/240707/  (censored by the Russian Authorities)
Russian court sentenced a woman to 6 years in prison for belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
European Court of Human Rights
United Nations Human Rights Office

Reviewed Oct. 2023