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The Dzhankoy District Court in Russian-occupied Crimea has sentenced 60-year-old Jehovah’s Witness Viktor Ursu to six years in a penal colony. This was reported by the portal “Jehovah’s Witnesses. Legal Situation in Russia.”
The believer was found guilty of organising the activities of an extremist organisation (Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code).
“I am not a criminal and not an extremist. I have lived in Dzhankoy for more than 50 years and have worked as a milling machine operator at the same company for 40 years. I look after my parents,” Ursu said in his final statement.
He was taken into custody in the courtroom.
Ursu was detained on 28 July 2023. At his home, where he lives with his wife and elderly parents, the authorities conducted an inspection. Believers consider that in reality this was a search. For some time, security officers did not allow Ursu and his wife to get dressed. The law enforcement officers refused to show identity documents and were armed. All electronic devices and storage media were confiscated from the family.
After this, the believer was held for two weeks in a temporary detention facility. Throughout that time, his wife was not allowed to visit him or pass on essential items, food, or medicine. On 7 August, Ursu was released but immediately detained again, taken to the Investigative Committee, and then back to the detention facility. He was charged with organising the activities of an extremist organisation.
On 9 August, Ursu was placed under house arrest. In September 2024, the believer was released under a travel and good behaviour restriction.