The case of Kovadnev and Others in Komsomolsk-on-Amur

Case History

In May 2023, civilians in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, as well as the village of Khurba and the village of Molodezhny, were subjected to night searches because of their religion. The investigation opened a criminal case against 8 believers—Vasiliy Bondarev and his mother Irina, Sergey Sachnev and his wife Ulita, Nikolay Kovadnev, Ivan Nikitin, Mikhail Dorofeev, Radion Shitov, Marina Voitko and Svetlana Zharkova. They were charged with involvement in the activities of a banned organization.
Timeline

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    May 4, 2023 Case initiated Art. 282.2 (1.1)

    The head of the investigation department for Komsomolsk-on-Amur of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Khabarovsk Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region, Lieutenant Colonel of Justice Svetlana Shved, initiates a criminal case against unidentified persons.

    The investigation believes that the believers, "staying in the village of Khurba in the Komsomolsk district of the Khabarovsk Territory, persuaded, recruited and otherwise involved May O.P. in the activities of the organization." Senior Lieutenant of Justice Leonid Kuznetsov is appointed head of the investigation team.

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    May 23, 2023 Search

    The Leninsky District Court of Komsomolsk-on-Amur issues a search order in the home of Vasily Bondarev, who lives in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

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    May 25, 2023 Search

    In Komsomolsk-on-Amur and the village of Khurba, searches are carried out in the evening at the homes of local believers - the Zharkovs, the Sachnevs, the Bondarevs, the Nikitins, the Shitovs, the Dorofeevs and the Kovadnevs. According to believers, the security forces come in the amount of 7 people, accompanied by officers of the FSB, the Investigative Committee, the police and witnesses. As they note, law enforcement officers behave politely.

    In the Bondarev family, Vasily is ordered to lie down on the floor, after which his mother Irina becomes ill, her blood pressure rises. Then the police allow Vasily to sit on the couch. During the searches, electronic devices, Bibles, CDs and personal records are seized.

    Believers are given summons to the Investigative Committee.

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    May 26, 2023 Search Interrogation

    At midnight, Marina Voitko's house is searched in the village of Molodezhnoye. Armed security forces in bulletproof vests and masks drive up to her house in a minibus and a car. The search lasts an hour and a half, electronic devices, notebooks and notebooks with personal notes are seized from the believer. She is also given a summons for interrogation.

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    June 1, 2023

    Investigator Kuznetsov interrogates Ivan Nikitin, asking him questions about faith, religions, and the army.