Irina Gezik
Irina Gezik, born 1972, 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 (November 13, 2022): 4 years 2 months 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
suspended sentence
Upheld February 28, 2023
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 her home for meetings of participants, discussed with those attending religious intolerance towards representatives of other faiths, promoted the superiority of the organization's teachings over other religions, and studied literature included in the federal list of extremist materials; without fulfilling her obligations to bring up minors, involved her daughter in an extremist organization.
Latest event
August 19, 2024 — persecution ends
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
· Persecution ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 4 years 2 months
· 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
- Anatoly 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 her husband for involvement in the activities of an extremist organization. They were also accused of inducement to participate in such an organization and of failing to perform the duties of raising a minor, as well as of financing extremist activities, but this charge was later dropped. In May 2021, the investigation into the case was suspended but later resumed. On 14 November 2022, she was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months probation.
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.