Case of Metsger in Perm

A married couple who previously attended meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, secretly using dictaphones, conducts conversations with Solovyov and Metzger on religious topics at home.

A man who had previously attended such meetings comes to the Chekhov Palace of Culture for worship of a religious group of Jehovah's Witnesses. Using a recording device issued by an operational officer, he makes an audio recording of the peaceful discussion of biblical teachings and prophecies by believers.

The case of Alexei Metzger is separated into a separate proceeding.

E. Leontiev, an investigator for especially important cases, initiates a criminal case against Alexei Metzger under Part 2 of Article 282.2.

The Ordzhonikidze District Court of Perm found Aleksandr Solovyov guilty under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced him to a fine of 300,000 rubles instead of the 3.5 years in prison requested by the prosecutor.

The Judicial Collegium for Criminal Cases of the Perm Regional Court upholds the verdict against Solovyov.

Alexey Metzger was officially charged under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The prosecutor signs and hands the indictment to Alexei Metzger. The case goes to court. A date for a preliminary hearing has not yet been set.

Preliminary hearing in the Ordzhonikidze District Court of Perm. Judge Svetlana Chereneva rejects the motion to exclude evidence.

The main hearing in the case is scheduled for October 14 at 14:00 local time.

The judge does not grant the defendant's request to refuse the state lawyer. The interests of Alexei Metzger are represented by lawyer Chernykh A.V. The defense files a motion to return the case to the prosecutor due to gross technical errors, falsifications and other violations of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

At the initiative of the prosecution, former Jehovah's Witness Alexander Sherstobitov is being questioned. During the interrogation, curious situations arise in which the distortion of information on the part of the witness becomes obvious. Sherstobitov accuses Jehovah's Witnesses of threatening him by reading the Bible and demanding that they "bring money to the LRO." In the hall, sometimes the laughter of listeners is heard, realizing the absurdity of such testimony. One of the listeners even leaves the hall as a sign of indignation. Prosecutor A.V. Tyutikova briefly announces the indictment. Representatives of the press, including federal media, are present in the hall.

Of the three prosecution witnesses testified, none appears in court. The prosecution asks to read out their testimony without personal presence, the defense does not agree and asks to ensure their forced appearance. The judge grants the request. The prosecution selectively reads out 6 volumes of the criminal case.

The hearing will continue on October 17 at 10:30 a.m., if the prosecution ensures the appearance of its witnesses.

Due to the delay of the public defender, the meeting is postponed to October 22, 11:00 local time.

Replacement of the State Advocate. 5 people from the prosecution were interrogated, including the chief accountant of the house of culture, where, according to the investigation, the service of the members of the LRO took place. The accountant reports that she has never seen the accused. The other four witnesses questioned in the case are former Jehovah's Witnesses. They confirm that neither they nor Alexei Metzger were members of the LRO. None of them had ever heard Metzger call for extremist action.

Three witnesses were interrogated - Metzger's fellow believer, including Alexander Solovyov, who had previously been convicted in a similar case. The court attaches documents that neither Metzger nor the prosecution witnesses were ever members of the LRO, and a copy of the brochure that the believers discussed on 17.12.2017. Metzger summarizes the content of the article. The court attaches a response from the Ministry of Justice that this brochure is not included in the list of extremist materials.

The judge examines positive references from Metzger's place of work and neighbors, as well as material evidence (books, brochures, personal notes). The decision of the ECHR in the case of the Moscow community is read out. The judge granted the request to listen to two audio recordings - according to the investigation, these are recordings of divine services.

The next meetings are scheduled for October 28 and 29. The debate of the parties will be held on November 5.

The court begins listening to the audio recording of the liturgical meeting held in the House of Culture. Listeners follow the reading of passages from the Bible on their electronic devices.

The new prosecutor is reprimanded by the judge for being 30 minutes late. The court finishes listening to the audio recording of the liturgical meeting. An audio recording of a conversation on a spiritual topic that took place between Sherstobitov, Metzger and Solovyov in the apartment of the former is also heard. The lawyer notes in the debate that the purpose of the conversation was to help the Sherstobitov family.

The judge refuses to satisfy the motions of the defense to return the criminal case to the prosecutor and terminate the case.

Judicial pleadings. The prosecutor requests 3 years of imprisonment for the defendant.

The defendant delivers the last word.

The announcement of the verdict is scheduled for November 14, 13:00 Moscow time.

The court announced the guilty verdict: to appoint Alexei Metzger a fine of 350 thousand rubles.

The Perm Regional Court upholds the verdict of the lower court.

The Seventh Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in Chelyabinsk, chaired by Judge Dmitry Kurin, leaves unchanged the verdict and the appellate ruling to Alexei Metzger.