Hieromonk Yakov (Vorontsov) Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

Today, October 7, Medeu District Court No. 2 of Almaty found Hieromonk Yakov (Vorontsov) guilty in a case concerning the illegal acquisition and possession, without intent to distribute, of an analogue of a psychotropic substance on a particularly large scale.

The court sentenced him to six years in prison. Taking into account an amnesty, the sentence was reduced by one third to four years. In addition, the court ordered the clergyman to pay 86,500 tenge to the Victim Compensation Fund and 39,500 tenge in court costs.

Defense attorney Galym Nurpeisov stated after the verdict was announced that he considers the prosecution's case unproven. According to him, the prosecution presented no evidence that the substance found during the search belonged to Father Yakov, nor when or from whom it was acquired.

The trial was held behind closed doors. In protest against the closed judicial proceedings, Father Yakov declared a hunger strike.

According to information received directly from Father Yakov’s family and his lawyer, the hunger strike has been ongoing for 11 days.

Earlier, the defense drew attention to the threat to the clergyman’s health and life, emphasizing the state’s responsibility for the well-being of a person in custody.

Father Yakov himself does not admit guilt and maintains the case is fabricated. The defense has also repeatedly expressed its disagreement with the charges and the closed nature of the trial.