Missionary Park’s co-defendant, Russian citizen Zinaida Ustinova, was sentenced to a total of 6 years on three immigration-related charges under the same Articles. The court imposed a total 6 year suspended sentence on Ustinova, with a probation period of 5 years.  

The court found Missionary Park guilty of Organization of Illegal Migration by a group of persons by prior agreement, under Article 322.1 Part 2 Paragraph A of the Russian Federation, with a sentence to 5 years and 2 months of imprisonment. She was also found guilty of Fictitious Registration of a Foreign Citizen or Stateless Person at the Place of Stay in the Russian Federation under Article 322.3 of the Russian Federation, with a sentence of 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment. Based on the aggregate of the offenses, the court imposed a total sentence of 5 years and 8 months of imprisonment, to be served in a general-regime correctional colony. 

“Missionary Park was taken to a pre-trial detention center (SIZO) immediately after the hearing, where she will remain pending the results of the appeal,” says Voice of the Martyrs Korea CEO Pastor Eric Foley. “Until now she had been held in a detention center for foreign nationals. If the higher court upholds the sentence without modification, Missionary Park will most likely be sent to a women’s correctional colony located in the village of Zaozernoye, Khabarovsk Krai, just beyond the city of Khabarovsk.” 

Pastor Foley says the factors the court used in determining the sentence are not yet known. “The judge announced only the sentence itself and did not state the reasons or the legal grounds for the decision when pronouncing the verdict,” says Pastor Foley. “The written judgment will not be available until next Wednesday.” 

Pastor Foley notes that the court did not impose a fine and that as a result, the seizure of Missionary Park’s home in Russia was lifted.  

Pastor Foley noted that the time Missionary Park spent in the detention center for foreign nationals would not be credited toward her sentence. “Only the time Missionary Park spent in custody after the the criminal case was opened—the period from January 15 until February 4–will be counted toward her sentence,” says Pastor Foley. “Authorities say that her stay in the detention center for foreign nationals was based on an administrative violation, namely that her permitted period of stay in Russia had expired. However, this violation was of course due to authorities detaining her. These will be among the many important factors to be noted in the appeal.” 

Pastor Foley noted that Missionary Park’s co-defendant, Zinaida Ustinova, had not been in detention and remains free due to the sentence being suspended, but she must report to the police twice a month to confirm that she is complying with the law and the conditions of her probation.