Anatoly Gezik
Anatoly Gezik, born 1967, Stavropol Krai. Charges: Article 156, Russian Criminal Code (Inadequate fulfillment of duties in raising a minor and cruel treatment of them); Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code (Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization); Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of an extremist organization); “Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk”. Sentence (February 28, 2023): 4 years 2 months of suspended sentence. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, December 11, 2020; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, April 5, 2020.
In brief
Stavropol Krai · Georgiyevsk · Manual workers · Extremism cases, Cases against Jehovah's Witnesses
Sentence
4 years 2 months
of suspended sentence
First instance, November 13, 2022: four years and two months of forced labour
Charges
- Article 156, Russian Criminal Code — Inadequate fulfillment of duties in raising a minor and cruel treatment of them
- Article 282.2 part 1.1, Russian Criminal Code — Involvement of a person in the activities of an extremist organization
- Article 282.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of an extremist organization
Full wording of the charges
Provided a house for holding meetings of participants, discussed with those attending religious intolerance towards representatives of other faiths, promoted the superiority of the teachings of this organisation over other religions, studied literature included in the federal list of extremist materials; without fulfilling his obligations to bring up minors, involved his daughter in an extremist organisation.
Latest event
February 28, 2023 — appeal
The court delivered a guilty verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, December 11, 2020
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, April 5, 2020
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
guilty verdict
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk
Criminal case
Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk
Other defendants in the case
- Irina Gezik — At large, 4 years 2 months
- Viktor Zimovsky — At large, 6 years 2 months
Thematic group: The case of Jehovah's Witnesses in Georgievsk
Details and sources
Full summary
On 23 October 2019, a search took place at Gezik's home. On 30 December, it became known that a case was opened against Gezik and his wife for involvement in activities of an extremist organisation. They were also accused of inducement to participate in such an organisation and of failing to perform the duties of bringing up a minor, as well as of financing extremist activities, but this charge was later dropped. In May 2021, the investigation in the case was suspended, but later resumed. On 14 November 2022, he was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months of forced labour. On 1 March 2023, the appeal court replaced the forced labour with a suspended sentence.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 156, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.