Case of Stupnikov in Krasnoyarsk

At the Emelyanovo airport in Krasnoyarsk, Andrei Stupnikov is detained by officers of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. After a personal search, he was forcibly taken to the building of the Federal Security Service of Russia in the Krasnoyarsk Territory at the address: Krasnoyarsk, Dzerzhinsky Street, 18. Senior Investigator of the Investigation Department for the Zheleznodorozhny District of Krasnoyarsk of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Krasnoyarsk Territory Brigida S.A., having considered the report (registered in the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee for the Zheleznodorozhny District of Krasnoyarsk under No. 257pr-18) of the investigator department of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Krasnoyarsk Territory Ivanov S.Y. dated 03.07.2018 on the detection of signs of a crime in the actions of Andrey Stupnikov, initiates a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Stupnikov was detained and on the same day, around midnight, a detention protocol was drawn up.

Andrey Stupnikov is being interrogated as a suspect. He refuses to be interrogated at night due to poor health. By the decision of the judge of the Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Krasnoyarsk, Belova, M. M. Stupnikov is taken into custody for a period of 2 months, that is, until September 2, 2018 inclusive.

Andrey Stupnikov was brought in as an accused and interrogated. During interrogation, he uses Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Olga Stupnikova, Andrey's wife, is being interrogated as a witness.

Appeal hearing on the measure of restraint. The judge of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, S. N. Kostenko, leaves the decision on the detention of Andrey Stupnikov unchanged, the appeal of the defender is dismissed.

A cassation appeal is filed with the Presidium of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court against the decisions of the Railway Court on detention and the Appeal Decision of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court.

Judge of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court I. F. Zaroyts refuses to transfer the cassation appeal to the Presidium of the Regional Court.

The judge of the Zheleznodorozhny District Court of Krasnoyarsk, Ivanova I.A., makes a decision on the first extension of the period of detention of Andrey Stupnikov for 1 month, and in total up to 3 months, that is, until 02.10.2018.

An appeal for extension is filed with the judicial board of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court.

Appeal hearing. The judge of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, S. N. Kostenko, makes a decision to leave unchanged the decision to extend the period of detention, the complaints are dismissed.

Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk. Judge Prysyazhnyuk O.V. makes a decision on the second extension of the period of detention for 1 month, and in total up to 4 months, that is, until 02.11.2018 inclusive.

An appeal against the second extension is filed with the judicial board of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court.

The judge of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, P. V. Kolegov, makes a decision to leave unchanged the decision on the second extension, the complaints are dismissed.

The judge of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk, M. M. Chernyakov, makes a decision on the third extension of the period of detention for 2 months and 1 day, and up to 6 months in total, that is, until 03.01.2019.

An appeal against the third extension is filed with the judicial board of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court.

MPAs are conducted at 23 addresses. Decisions are issued by the Central and Railway Courts of Krasnoyarsk.

Appeal hearing. The judge of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court, O. S. Revyagina, makes a decision to leave unchanged the decision to extend the period of detention, the complaints are dismissed.

The judge of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk, A. A. Ginter, makes a decision on the fourth extension of the period of detention for 2 months, and up to 8 months in total, that is, until 02.03.2019.

An appeal against the fourth extension is filed with the judicial board of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Court.

Appeal hearing. The Krasnoyarsk Regional Court makes a decision to leave unchanged the decision to extend the period of detention, the complaints are dismissed.

The judge of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk, M. M. Chernyakov, makes a decision to refuse to satisfy the petition for an extension of the period of detention and to change the measure of restraint to house arrest and the fifth extension of the measure of restraint for a period until 03.05.2019 with the presence of Andrey Stupnikov at the place of residence.

A petition is filed to change the bans for Andrey Stupnikov.

Prosecutor Leontiev V.A. submits an appeal with a request to cancel the decision of the Leninsky District Court to change the measure to Andrei Stupnikov to house arrest.

Appeal hearing to consider the appeal submission of the prosecutor.

The judge of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk, M. M. Chernyakov, makes a decision to satisfy the petition to change the prohibitions (permission to walk and increase the time to visit the doctor).

The Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk issues a decision on the sixth extension of house arrest to Andrey Stupnikov until 03.06.2019.

An appeal is being filed against the sixth extension of house arrest.

Appeal hearing on the appeal against the extension of house arrest until 03.06.2019.

The Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk issues a decision on the seventh extension of house arrest until 03.07.2019.

An appeal is being filed against the decision to extend house arrest until 03.07.2019.

Searches are being carried out at 2 addresses on the basis of decisions of Judge M. V. Zolotrubova of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk on permission to conduct searches.

Searches are being conducted at 9 addresses, 13 people have been interrogated. According to some available orders, it can be seen that the search warrant was issued by Judge Ginter A.A. of the Leninsky District Court (decisions dated 06.06.2019).

Appeal hearing on the complaint against the extension of house arrest until 03.07.2019.

Judge of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk, Svetlana Sakovich, orders Stupnikov's release from house arrest and chooses a preventive measure for him in the form of a ban on certain actions. He is not allowed to use the mail and the Internet, as well as to communicate with witnesses interrogated in his criminal case.

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation A. I. Bastrykin extends the period of the preliminary investigation on UD by 3 months, and in total up to 15 months, that is, until 03.10.2019.

As part of the Stupnikov case, a search was authorized in the house of 77-year-old Lyubov Mirenyuk, who lives in the village of Nikolaevka (Krasnoyarsk Territory). The resolution is signed by the judge of the Leninsky District Court of Krasnoyarsk, Artem Ginter. The only reason for the search is that her grandson, who professes the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses, is registered in the woman's house. Lyubov Mirenyuk herself does not share this faith. The woman has poor health, and she has not gone out for a long time, she moves around the house with great difficulty. Armed men climb over the fence, break into the house and start the search without introducing themselves or showing any documents. They are threatening a long prison sentence for her grandson.

Referee: Marina Poptsova.

About 40 people come to the hearing, but only 7 are allowed into the courtroom. Prosecution witness J. She speaks of Jehovah's Witnesses as good, sincere, and decent people who can be trusted. According to her, they respect authority and choose only the best and most advanced methods of treatment for themselves. The witness notes that her relationship with her husband was improved through Bible study.

Three prosecution witnesses are being questioned in the Zheleznodorozhny District Court. Tatiana Izluchenko, a specialist in the field of religious studies, notes that the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses are quite common for believers. Izluchenko recalls that the Witnesses were persecuted in Nazi Germany and were also repressed in the USSR.

Referee: Marina Poptsova. Zheleznodorozhny District Court of the city of Krasnoyarsk. Time: 14:00.

The first 10 of the 15 volumes of the criminal case of Andrey Stupnikov are examined at the hearing. 4 listeners are allowed into the hall.

A court hearing is held, during which Stupnikov first answers questions from the defense and prosecution. He explains that he was never a member of the LRO or the author of religious literature, did not call for the refusal of medical intervention, did not speak negatively about people of other faiths. On the contrary, he is very respectful of friends and acquaintances of different nationalities and cultures.

The next court hearing is scheduled for April 12, 2021. It is planned to continue the interrogation and review the recordings of Stupnikov's speeches.

The prosecutor requests a sentence of 6 years in prison for Andrey Stupnikov with deprivation of the right to engage in leadership activities in public associations for a term of 5 years . The prosecutor also asks to restrict the freedom of the believer for 1.5 years with a ban on leaving the municipality at the place of residence, where the convicted person will live after serving his term in a general regime colony. The prosecutor calls the joint reading and discussion of the Bible a crime belonging to the category of grave, and finds no mitigating circumstances.

Stupnikov is accused of "organizing the activities of an extremist organization." As follows from the text of the debate, the state prosecutor explains: "After the ban on this organization, he did not renounce his beliefs. [...] In fact, after the ban on the activities of the organization, the teachings did not change ... The congregations have not ceased, [they] use the Bible Synodal Translation in their teachings."

According to the prosecutor, an examination of the audio recordings of the worship services attended by Andrey Stupnikov revealed that they "are of a religious nature and represent a religious gathering of members of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization," and in the conversations "there are signs of motivation to sing religious songs and discuss issues related to religion."

Judge Marina Poptsova finds Andrey Stupnikov guilty of organizing the activities of a banned community and sentences him to 6 years in a general regime colony.