The Jehovah's Witnesses' website published Alexander Voronchikhin's final statement on November 4 in a case before a Russian court in occupied Simferopol. Voronchikhin denies wrongdoing, says he has practiced his faith for more than 35 years and rejects investigators' claim that he engaged in extremist activities. These are the defendant's statements as reproduced by the religious organization's website.
The case summary published by the organization lists criminal case number 12202350020000180 and court proceeding number 1-9/2026. It cites Parts 1 and 2 of Article 282.2 of Russia's Criminal Code, concerning organizing or participating in the activities of an association designated extremist by Russian authorities, and Part 1 of Article 282.3, concerning the financing of extremist activities. Those details come from the organization's account; they have not been checked against the court's official case record directly.
According to the project, the criminal case was opened on November 17, 2022, and proceedings are continuing at the court of first instance. Its case chronology says the defendants made their final statements on October 29. Publication of the statement on November 4 does not mean the court delivered a verdict that day.