Case of Korobeynikov in Kirov

Case History

In October 2018, searches were carried out in Kirov on the basis of professing the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Seven people, including Vladimir Korobeynikov, were under investigation. They were charged with “singing biblical songs together … study of religious literature, the so-called Holy Scripture.” Korobeinikov and four of his co-religionists ended up behind bars. He spent 73 days in a temporary detention center and another 284 days under house arrest. Later, the case was referred to Judge Timur Yusupov for consideration in the Pervomaisky District Court of Kirov. In December 2020, Korobeynikov’s case was separated into a separate proceeding and suspended due to the fact that due to his age he is in self-isolation due to the covid pandemic. Korobeynikov’s wife and daughter are in dire need of his help due to their disability.
Timeline

  • #
    Case initiated Elderly

    The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Kirov Region initiates a criminal case for faith against seven Jehovah's Witnesses, including Vladimir Korobeynikov (born in 1952).

  • #
    Search Temporary detention facility Elderly
  • #
    Detention center Elderly

    The court decides to detain Korobeynikov and two of his co-religionists. A day earlier, two more were sent to the pre-trial detention center, the rest remain at large.

  • #
    House arrest Elderly Caring for disabled persons

    The Kirov Regional Court releases Vladimir Korobeynikov under house arrest due to the illness of his wife and daughter, who have no one to take care of.

  • #
    House arrest Elderly

    Pervomaisky District Judge Aleksey Zhizhin releases Korobeynikov and two other believers from house arrest, believing that they will not be able to interfere with the criminal proceedings.

  • #
    Hearing in a court of the first instance Elderly

    Vladimir Korobeynikov does not appear at the hearing, observing self-isolation due to age, about which he sends a notification to the court. The judge is considering two motions of the defendant: to terminate the proceedings in the case and to postpone the hearing due to the inability to attend. The prosecutor supports Korobeynikov's petitions. The judge also proposes to separate his case into separate proceedings.

    All the defendants and their lawyers support Korobeynikov's petitions, but object to his separation into separate proceedings for the following reasons:

    everyone has the same accusation;

    possible violation of Vladimir's rights: the common cause may establish negative factors for his case. He will no longer be able to dispute the event of the crime if it is proved in a common case;

    other defendants will be deprived of Korobeynikov's testimony, which can serve as evidence for their defense;

    procedural burden on the court (copying more than forty volumes of the case);

    Someone in the case will not have physical evidence that can be used for defense.

  • #
    Hearing in a court of the first instance Elderly

    The court decides to separate the charges against Vladimir Korobeynikov from the criminal case, after which it suspends the proceedings in this separated case.

Back to top