A court in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky fined American pastor Paul Gione 30,000 rubles in a case over violating missionary activity rules. The court also ordered his expulsion from Russia. The outlet Sibir. Realii drew attention to the case.
The protocol against Gione was drawn up in late May. The reason was that on May 23 he held religious talks with residents of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at the Full Gospel Church. According to the security services, the pastor gave lectures on religion without the required authorization documents and called on people to pray for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Gione was also accused of displaying religious materials “with the participation of more than 15 persons who do not belong to any religious organization.”
The main evidence for the prosecution was an audio recording made by two passersby who came to the gathering. They later handed it over to the security services. At the same time, witnesses from the congregation said the two were outsiders and had not interacted with the believers. The court accepted the recording as admissible evidence.
The pastor did not admit guilt. He said he had spoken at the church at the invitation of another clergyman. During the conversation, he stressed that in the United States people pray for their political leaders, and that was why he suggested that parishioners pray for the U.S. president.
Gione also said that his words contained no campaigning or propaganda.
The pastor said he had come to Russia for the 58th time. The defense noted that for 30 years he has traveled to Kamchatka on charitable missions, helps orphanages, and is raising eight children, five of whom he adopted in Russia.
Despite this, the court ordered the clergyman expelled from the country. He was placed in a temporary detention center for foreign nationals until August 27, after which he will be deported.
Mediazona also reported that Gione’s wife was fined and ordered expelled from Russia under a protocol for violating entry rules. She was allowed to leave Russia on her own.