The Moscow Regional Court approved the verdict of two Pentecostal pastors Svyatoslav Yugov and Nikolai Ulitin in the case of cooperation with the New Generation Church, which was recognized as “undesirable ” . This was reported by SOTAvision.
In August, the Ramensky City Court sentenced believers to three and a half years in prison under the article on organizing the activities of an “undesirable organization” (Part 3 of Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). They were found guilty in connection with the New Generation Church - in August 2021, the Prosecutor General’s Office recognized the activities of Latvian and Ukrainian church organizations as “undesirable . ”
During the appeal, the defense insisted that the New Generation organization, which unites Pentecostal churches, was registered in Russia as separate from the Ukrainian one. Consequently, the men’s guilt was in communicating with a pastor from Ukraine.
In December 2021, a conference of “New Generation” pastors was held in Ramenskoye near Moscow , with about 150 people participating. Security forces came to the event and forced the believers to lie face down on the floor. About 60 participants signed documents demanding liability under the article on cooperation with an “undesirable” organization (Article 20.33 of the Administrative Code). Yugov and, later, Ulitin’s children were fined and recognized as participants in the conference.
The SOVA Research Center noted that in the protocols the security forces indicated that the organizer of the forum was the International Movement of Christian Churches “New Generation”, although in fact it was held by the Centralized Religious Organization of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) “New Generation” registered in Russia.
In August 2022, security forcesconducted searches of alleged members of the “New Generation” in at least six cities of Russia - as part of a criminal case under the article on carrying out the activities of an “undesirable organization” (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). Investigative actions, among other things, were carried out by the former head of the Chelyabinsk branch of the New Generation, Svyatoslav Yugov, and the pastor of the Pentecostal Church of Christ the Savior, Nikolai Ulitin. In the same month, the Basmanny Court of Moscowplaced the latter under arrest. In April 2023, the same court sent Yugov to pre-trial detention.
Believers were charged with communicating with Andrei Tishchenko, a “New Generation” pastor from Ukraine. In November 2022, a man was arrested in absentia in Russia.
- Since 2015, according to Russian legislation , foreign or international organizations that, in the opinion of the authorities, pose a “threat to the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation, the defense capability of the country or the security of the state” can be recognized as “undesirable.” From 2021, organizations that cooperate with already recognized “undesirables” are also recognized as “undesirable.” Such organizations are prohibited from operating in the country, and a number of other restrictions are also imposed on them - for example, they are not allowed to distribute information materials in Russia. The decision on recognition is made by the Prosecutor General's Office in agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As of August 2023, there are more than 100 undesirable organizations on the Ministry of Justice register .
- For participation in the activities of an “undesirable” organization, administrative liability is provided (Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, the maximum penalty is a fine of up to 15 thousand rubles for citizens), and with repeated participation, criminal liability (Part 1 of Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to four years). Article 284.1 also applies to financing or organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization, in which case the punishment can be up to five and six years in prison, respectively.
- Human rights organization Amnesty International called the "undesirable organizations" law a way to "vilify independent NGOs, deprive them of funding and impose harsh penalties on their members." The law, accordingto human rights activists, is used “to combat dissent and stifle freedom of expression and independent civil society organizations in Russia.” The UN Human Rights Committee recommended that Russia repeal or revise legislation on “undesirable organizations.”