The Case of Dmitriyev and Sergeechev in Adygeysk

Investigator of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation Zalim Ashinov opens a criminal case against 74-year-old disabled person of group III Yuriy Sergeechev and 57-year-old Aleksey Dmitriev from Adygeisk. The investigation interprets ordinary conversations about God with a local resident as involvement in an extremist organization.

Maykop City Court judge Marina Vittek sends Yuriy Sergeechev and Aleksey Dmitriev into custody until June 27, 2025.

Yuriy Sergeechev and Aleksey Dmitriyev are held in double cells, each of them has another person with him. They have good relations with the believers.

Yuriy Sergeechev, 73, suffers from arrhythmia. He is disabled — walks with a cane and has poor eyesight. For a period after his arrest, he did not have the necessary medication. The medical unit could not give him the medication since they did not have it. Yuriy finds it difficult to understand the meaning of the case documents, so he has to reread the text several times.

Aleksey Dmitriyev needs dental care. According to available information, help from the appointed lawyer consisted of recommending the believer admit his guilt.

Yuriy and Aleksey are kept in different cells with 3-4 other prisoners. The conditions are satisfactory; the necessary things are provided by relatives. Since the believers did not admit their guilt, the investigator banned them from receiving letters, visits and phone calls. It also now known that he has seized Dmitriyev's car.

Sergeechev suffers from cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus; Dmitriyev is finding it hard being separated from his wife. Nevertheless, both are trying not to lose heart.

The case is submitted to the Teuchezhskiy District Court of the Republic of Adygea; it will be considered by Judge Aslanbech Trakhov.

The first court hearing is taking place. The believers express how the feel about the charges. Sergeechev says that he always treated the key witness for the prosecution in a Christian manner, prayed for his son, asked God to help him and did not involve him in any extremist organization.

The court extends pretrial detention for the believers by another 6 months — they remain in the detention center.

They have a Bible and each has 5 people in their cell. It is very hot in the premises and there are cockroaches. A fan has been installed in Dmitriyev's cell. Sergeechev sometimes suffers from high blood pressure.

Aleksey Dmitriyev is in the pretrial detention facility located at Penal Colony No. 1 for the Republic of Adygea.

The protocol of the examination of material evidence — video recordings — is read out. In one of them, a witness for the prosecution comments on sensitive political matters, while believer Aleksey Dmitriyev clearly distances himself from such discussions. The defense regards the behavior of the former as provocative.

The defense filed a motion for Aleksey Dmitriev to see a traumatologist for his swollen knee. The court refuses, explaining that the medical unit of the pretrial detention center can provide assistance and, if necessary, send the accused to a state hospital.

Yuriy Sergeechev complains of worsening health problems and trouble sleeping. According to the defendant, samples for diagnosis were taken, medical documents about his health condition were collected and are being prepared for his hospitalization.

Yuriy cannot read the Bible, was taken away to be approved, but it has not yet been returned to him.

Aleksey Dmitriyev needs the help of a trauma specialist because he has a swollen knee, and he also requires dental treatment. There are four people in his cell and no one smokes. The visits from his wife, who is his public defender, are a great source of support for him.

On the eve of the court hearing, Yuriy Sergeechev has a hypertensive crisis. This condition requires medical intervention and rest, but the next day the believer is taken to court.

Yuri's wife cannot support him, as she is forced to stay at home due to illness. The defendant's granddaughter and ten of his friends come to the hearing.

The court examines written materials, including the protocol of examining audio recordings. The defense explains that the materials depict a Bible study using permitted publications without signs of involving others in the activity of a banned organization or displaying extremism. Quotes from the materials confirm the peaceful dissemination of religious beliefs without imposing personal opinions.

The night before the hearing, Sergeechev falls ill due to a spike in his blood pressure. Information about his hypertensive crisis does not draw any reaction from the court.

During the hearing, a video recording is being considered, in which Aleksey Dmitriyev and the witness for the prosecution discuss moral principles.

Yuriy Sergeechev often experiences attacks of hypertension — his blood pressure rises above 200 at night. Medication helps only partially. The believer needs to undergo a medical examination, but so far he has not succeeded. There is still no heating in the cells, so prisoners are forced to wear warm clothes at all times. The court denies Yuriy visits from his wife.

After a medical examination at the Adygea Republic Hospital, Yuriy Sergeechev was advised to have heart stent surgery. Previously, Yuriy had suffered two heart attacks.

The believer is supported by letters — he has already received about 300 from different countries.

The hearing begins with a series of refusals of petitions: the court does not give the defense the opportunity to interrogate V. S. Shulga, the main witness for the prosecution, as well as the expert Ruslan Levinsky. The lawyer notes that this specialist does not have the necessary competence and that instead of a religious and linguistic analysis, he performed a political analysis. The judge also refuses to appoint a second examination.

The defendants testify. Aleksey Dmitriev tells how his and Shulga's conversations about the Bible began. According to him, the man himself came to his work and, in the presence of Dmitriev's colleagues, asked to study the Bible with him, citing problems with his alcoholic son. The defendant says: "After repeated persuasion from Shulga, I felt sorry for him and sincerely wanted to help him understand the Bible's teachings and get the comfort he needed."

According to Yuriy Sergeechev, he attended a Bible study with Shulga only once. "It was free, peaceful and friendly communication, including on personal topics," says the believer. "He asked for advice on how to settle problems with his son." He adds: "I am accused of a crime against the state and the constitutional order, but a conversation with Mr. Shulga proves just the opposite."

The court listens to hidden audio recordings of conversations between Dmitriev and Shulga. The defense states that the content of the believer's prayers, which were included in these recordings, shows his sincere desire to help Shulga in his Bible study, and not to involve him in any organization. At one of the conversations, they talked about baptism, and Dmitriev emphasizes that baptism means that "a person becomes a member of the family of God." There was no question of joining the LRO.