The case of Starikov and Others in Konakovo

Sergey Erofeev, a senior investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Tver region, is initiating a criminal case against 61-year-old Alexander Starikov for discussing the Bible with fellow believers via video conferencing, and also talking about Bible teachings to residents of the Konakovo district.

A similar case is being initiated against 34-year-old Sergey Naumenko. Subsequently, both cases are merged into one. Sergey Erofeev, a senior investigator of the FSB of Russia in the Tver region, is initiating a criminal case against 61-year-old Alexander Starikov for discussing the Bible with fellow believers via video conferencing, and also talking about Bible teachings to residents of the Konakovo district.

A similar case is being initiated against 34-year-old Sergey Naumenko. Subsequently, both cases are merged into one.

The security forces conduct 3 searches at the homes of Jehovah's Witnesses in Konakovo, including Sergey Naumenko. At 8 a.m., people in firefighters' clothes knock on his door under the pretext that the neighbors had an emergency. As a result, investigator Alexei Korshunov, district policeman Medvedev with weapons and two witnesses enter the apartment. The security forces say that they "try to act according to the law," but they threaten to use force in response to Sergey's refusal to give them the phone.

In addition, operatives are conducting a search of Alexander Starikov in the city of Ivanovo. He moved there from Konakovo to take care of his 95-year-old father. FSB officers Sergey Yerofeev, Alexander Blinov and Vladislav Motorkin participate in the search. They take into account the believer's request not to frighten or disturb his elderly father and conduct a search without any violence or pressure.

Electronic equipment and storage media, bank cards, personal records, and even school diaries are seized from believers. Alexander and Sergey are taken away for interrogation, during which they both use Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. They are charged and released on their own recognizance.

On the same day, the security forces searched the garage and car of Alexander Starikov. In total, the investigative measures against the believer last about 8 hours.

Alexander Starikov and Sergey Naumenko are included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring, their personal accounts are blocked.

Sergey Naumenko and Alexander Starikov are charged. Also, investigator Erofeev involves Alexander Shchetinin and Oleg Katamov as defendants in this case. The ruling states that between 2018 and 2021, the men "discussed the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses ... conducted a study of religious materials." The investigation considers these actions "aimed at involving Jehovah's Witnesses in an extremist organization." All four men are being interrogated.

The case of Aleksandr Starikov and three other believers is being submitted to the Konakovo City Court of the Tver Region.

The prosecutor announces the indictment, the accused express their attitude to it. Alexander Shchetinin and Oleg Katamov declare that extremism is absolutely unacceptable for them and they have been peacefully professing a faith based on love for God and neighbor for more than one year.

Katamov adds: "I have the impression that in order to avoid criminal liability, I must renounce my religious beliefs or stop expressing them. But this is nothing less than discrimination."

Sergey Naumenko says: "I never had and could not have a motive of hatred or enmity. Moreover, in his youth... I asked to replace military service with alternative civilian service, because my conscience does not even allow me to "learn to fight." For three and a half years I worked in a psychiatric hospital as a ward orderly. I wonder how a person can be called an extremist just because of his religious beliefs."

Alexander Starikov notes: "Joint discussion of the Bible and prayer are an expression of my faith and love for God, not extremism ... That's why I was shocked to the core by the accusation of extremism."

Prosecution witnesses are being questioned.