Case of Vinogradov in Chelyabinsk

Senior investigator P. A. Madjar submits a report to the head of the Investigative Committee E. Y. Smirnykh on the discovery of "signs of a crime" by Dmitry Vinogradov. This comes about two and a half months after the embedded agent "Sergey Makarenko" questions Dmitriy about the teachings of the Bible.

Prior to this, the surveillance of Chelyabinsk believers was carried out by "Lilia Ruzayeva", who introduced him as her brother.

The investigator points out that "according to the results of the operational-search activity "Observation", P. N. Popov, V. A. Suvorova, V. N. Suvorov are members of the religious organization "Jehovah's Witnesses", whose activities are prohibited in Russia." The investigation calls the citizen's religion the activities of a legal entity - the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. It is noteworthy that, according to Makarenko, Chelyabinsk Jehovah's Witnesses "did not force him to this faith, they did not ask for donations."

Investigator Alexander Chepenko initiates criminal case No. 119027500300000002 on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, against unidentified persons from among the residents of Chelyabinsk and the Chelyabinsk region who participated in religious meetings of believers.

The Traktorozavodsky District Court of Chelyabinsk, at the request of investigator A. V. Chepenko, allows a search of Dmitry Vinogradov's home.

The search takes place later without Vinogradov's participation: the security forces open the apartment, which was under an alarm system.

Dmitry Vinogradov, 56, was charged under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the basis of his religion. A written undertaking not to leave was taken. His criminal case was separated from the case of Valentina Suvorova. It is being investigated by the investigator of the Department for the Investigation of Especially Important Cases, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice Alexander Viktorovich Chepenko.

The case of Dmitry Vinogradov was transferred to the Central District Court of the city of Chelyabinsk for consideration by Judge Alexander Tabakov.

The first court hearing is scheduled for April 8, 2020.

The hearing was postponed to April 22, 2020.

During the trial, the prosecutor read out the indictment. After hearing the accusation, Dmitry Vinogradov said that he did not understand what he was accused of.

The next court hearing will be held on 23.06.2020. Prosecution witnesses are scheduled to be heard.

The judge rejects the defense's motions to admit the listeners to the courtroom.

Interrogation of prosecution witness Lilia Ruzayeva. She talks about how she first showed an interest in the Bible and was then recruited by law enforcement and given the task of spying on believers. She has never seen Dmitry Vinogradov, she knows about him only from the words of Sergei Makarenko, another embedded agent. I also did not see other believers commit extremist actions or encourage anyone else to do so. Among themselves, believers discussed the Bible, "sang Bible songs."

The next hearing is scheduled for August 14. The questioning of prosecution witnesses will continue.

The defendant Vinogradov gives a detailed account of what Jehovah's Witnesses believe. A petition was also filed for an additional comprehensive examination of the only audio recording where his voice is present.

Sergey Makarenko, an agent of the Center for Countering Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who imitated interest in the Bible in order to denounce believers, is being interrogated. He confirms that the defendant did not incite religious discord, did not undermine the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation, did not encourage the severance of family relations and refusal of medical intervention, did not promote the activities of any organizations.

Vinogradov once again emphasizes that it is not forbidden to practice the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia. "I have my flaws, but I certainly can't be called an extremist," he says.- Biblical truth and the example of Jesus Christ help me not to become embittered even now in the current circumstances, when I am unreasonably persecuted and labeled as an extremist."

The next hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.

At the meeting, an audio recording of a Bible study on the topic "Who is God?" is listened to.

The court rejects the request to include the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The meeting is held in the presence of 6 listeners. The court rejects the request for additional comprehensive examination of the defendant's case.

The debate of the parties begins. In addition to the participants in the process, 9 listeners are allowed to participate in the court.

The prosecutor requests a sentence of 3 years of suspended imprisonment for Dmitry Vinogradov with a probationary period of 4 years. It takes into account the presence of minor children in the defendant and the positive characteristics of the case.

The court granted the defense's motion to postpone the hearing to prepare a speech in the debate.

Referee: Aleksandr Tabakov. Central District Court of the city of Chelyabinsk (Chelyabinsk, Commune Street, 87). Courtroom 302.

The court session is postponed due to the illness of the lawyer.

Judge of the Central District Court of the city of Chelyabinsk Alexander Tabakov announces the verdict to Dmitry Vinogradov. The believer was found guilty of violating Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. He is conditionally imprisoned for 2 years.

The appeal upholds the verdict.

The panel of judges of the Seventh Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction (Chelyabinsk), chaired by Larisa Gagarina, approves the verdict and the appeal decision against Dmitry Vinogradov.

Dmitry Vinogradov served the main sentence - a term of 2 years of suspended imprisonment.