Dagestani Jehovah’s Witnesses* refuse to appeal against suspended sentences

Four Jehovah’s Witnesses* who received suspended sentences withdrew their appeals against the verdict, and it came into force, the Supreme Court of Dagestan reported.

In November 2022, in Makhachkala, a court sentenced Arsen Abdullaev, Marat Abdulgalimov, and Anton Dergalyov to 6.5 years and Maria Karpova – to six years of suspended imprisonment. The court found all four guilty of participating in an extremist organization. In December, the convicts filed a complaint against the court’s decision.

The convicts withdrew their appeals against the verdict, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent learned from an official of the press service for the Supreme Court (SC) of Dagestan.

A relative of one of the convicts suggested that the reason for the withdrawal of the appeals was the unwillingness to participate in further proceedings. “All of them are tired of endless trials,” the relative said.

Let us remind you that four Dagestani Jehovah’s Witnesses* were detained in June 2019 and charged with extremism.

Meanwhile, in October 2020, in Kabardino-Balkaria, a court acquitted Jehovah’s Witness* Yuri Zalipaev, who was accused of inciting extremism. In September 2021, the Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria awarded him 500,000 roubles in compensation, and the public prosecutor apologized to the believer for the persecution. Acquittals for Jehovah’s Witnesses* are rare in the Russian judicial system, notes Yaroslav Sivulsky, the spokesperson for the European Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

*396 Russian organizations of Jehovah’s Witnesses are recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia are banned by court’s decision.