{"id":43470,"date":"2022-01-26T14:35:44","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T13:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/?p=43470"},"modified":"2025-12-30T04:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T02:48:12","slug":"ru-2022-01-26-for-the-first-time-in-russia-a-court-sentenced-a-woman-to-6-years-in-prison-for-belonging-to-jehovahs-witnesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/ru-2022-01-26-for-the-first-time-in-russia-a-court-sentenced-a-woman-to-6-years-in-prison-for-belonging-to-jehovahs-witnesses\/","title":{"rendered":"RU 2022.01.26 Russian court sentenced a Woman"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-default\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Andrei-Lemeshonok-and-Alexander-Lukashenko-2023.01.07-v0.webp\" alt=\"Andrei Lemeshonok and Alexander Lukashenko at St. Elisabeth Convent\" class=\"wp-image-55553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Andrei-Lemeshonok-and-Alexander-Lukashenko-2023.01.07-v0.webp 800w, https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Andrei-Lemeshonok-and-Alexander-Lukashenko-2023.01.07-v0-300x199.webp 300w, https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Andrei-Lemeshonok-and-Alexander-Lukashenko-2023.01.07-v0-768x509.webp 768w, https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Andrei-Lemeshonok-and-Alexander-Lukashenko-2023.01.07-v0-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Russian court sentenced a Jehovah\u2019s Witness<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Six Years in Prison<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Russian Court Sentences Woman for Practicing Jehovah\u2019s Witness Faith<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" src=\"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Russian-court-sentenced-woman-to-6-years-in-prison.webp\" alt=\"Russian Court, Russian court sentenced Jehovahs Witnesses to 6 years in prison\" class=\"wp-image-51445\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Russian-court-sentenced-woman-to-6-years-in-prison.webp 800w, https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Russian-court-sentenced-woman-to-6-years-in-prison-300x199.webp 300w, https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Russian-court-sentenced-woman-to-6-years-in-prison-768x509.webp 768w, https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Russian-court-sentenced-woman-to-6-years-in-prison-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/jw-russia.org\/en\/news\/2022\/04\/180926.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Anna Safronova became the first female Jehovah\u2019s Witness in Russia to be sentenced<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Jehovah\u2019s Witness to Penal Colony<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On January 25, the Russian court in the Trusovsky District Court of Astrakhan sentenced Jehovah\u2019s 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\u2019s request for actual imprisonment. Following the verdict, Safronova was taken into custody, according to a report from &#8220;Credo. Press&#8221;, citing sources within the Russian Jehovah\u2019s Witness community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Defendant\u2019s Statement and Legal Grounds <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In her final statement, Safronova declared, \u201cA 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\u2019s Witness, which are rights guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with other cases against Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, there were no identified victims or damages. Despite this, the court proceeded with its ruling, interpreting Safronova\u2019s religious activities as a form of extremism under Russian law. The verdict has not yet taken effect and can be appealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-Ipv4nN2ZbI?si=nmrLAf8vGEh6vIvQ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/cruxnow.com\/church-in-europe\/2024\/12\/religious-minorities-facing-attacks-in-belarus-charity-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Religious minorities facing attacks in Belarus, charity says<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Personal Background and Previous Searches<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5L3qPE6Md9Q?si=EWdY0qZxu-h5AA4W\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5L3qPE6Md9Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russia targets Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses with arrests and raids on homes<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Criminal Case and Charges<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s Witness worship services and financing extremist activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Allegations of Financing Extremism<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authorities argue that Safronova\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Harsh Sentences and Precedents<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Safronova is the first female Jehovah\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two other women\u2014Olga Ivanova from Astrakhan (3.5 years) and Valentina Baranovskaya from Abakan (2 years)\u2014are currently imprisoned following similar convictions. Additionally, Olga Ponomareva and Anna Yermak from Krasnodar\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s Witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Background on Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses in Russia<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jehovah\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to an October 28, 2021, ruling by the Supreme Court\u2019s Plenum, \u201cthe divine services of Jehovah\u2019s 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.\u201d However, in practice, local courts continue to convict believers under anti-extremism laws, often citing their participation in religious gatherings as criminal activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>International Reactions and Human Rights Concerns<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s Witnesses, urging diplomatic pressure and sanctions against officials involved in religious persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a statement, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) also denounced Russia\u2019s actions, ruling that the 2017 ban on Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses was unlawful and violated fundamental human rights. However, Russia\u2019s withdrawal from the ECHR in 2022 has limited the court\u2019s ability to enforce such decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has expressed deep concern over the rising number of Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses facing imprisonment in Russia, calling on authorities to adhere to international human rights agreements and cease their criminalization of peaceful religious practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Future Implications<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anna Safronova\u2019s case underscores the continued persecution of Jehovah\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Safronova\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Suggested Sources<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/lemeshonok-scandals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Andrei Lemeshonok &#8211; Scandals <\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/credo.press\/240707\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/credo.press\/240707\/<\/a>&nbsp; (censored by the Russian Authorities)<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/religious-prisoners-conscience\/forb-victims-database\/anna-safronova#:~:text=USCIRF%20Annual%20Report%202022%3A%20Russia,Witnesses%22%20Jehovah&#039;s%20Witnesses%20in%20Russia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Russian court sentenced a woman to 6 years in prison for belonging to Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amnesty International<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Human Rights Watch<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United States Commission on International Religious Freedom<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.echr.coe.int\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European Court of Human Rights<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United Nations Human Rights Office<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recenzovan\u00e9 okt\u00f3ber 2023<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Safronova declared, \u201cA 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\u2019s Witness, which are rights guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution\u201d.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51445,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43470"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84546,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43470\/revisions\/84546"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionagainstchildabduction.com\/sk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}