The Case of Bagin and Others in Mayna

The FSB invades the homes of Viktor Timoshchenko, Aleksandr Gorev and Yevgeniy Bagin to conduct an inspection, but in fact the believers are being searched.

Viktor Timoshchenko, who is staying with an elderly mother suffering from Alzheimer's disease, is threatened by operatives, demanding to confess on video. The law enforcers tell the man that they will create problems for relatives, and violence will be used against him. Tymoshchenko is forced to read a prepared text on camera. Also, law enforcement officers put pressure on Yevgeniy Bagin, threatening to create problems for his wife and daughters.

During these interrogations, which take place simultaneously with the ORM, none of the believers are provided with lawyers. After that, the men are taken for interrogation to the Abakan department of the Investigative Committee, where they learn that a criminal case on extremism has been opened against them (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). It turns out that the case file contains hidden video recordings of recent meetings for worship.

Judge of the Abakan City Court Ivan Stepankov sends Viktor Timoshchenko, Aleksandr Gorev and Yevgeniy Bagin to pre-trial detention center No. 1 in the Republic of Khakassia. This was petitioned by the investigator of the Investigative Committee V. Kotenko.

The believers received parcels from relatives in the pretrial detention center. Gorev was also given a letter from his wife.

Bagin tries to stay optimistic, but worries about his wife, who recently underwent major surgery. The believer has his own health problems — he suffers from asthma, and has previously had heart surgery. He needs medication.

The court changes the preventive measure for Viktor Timoshchenko, Aleksandr Gorev, Yevgeniy Bagin from pretrial detention to house arrest.

Aleksey Gorokhov is kept alone in a two-person cell, which has a refrigerator, kettle, hot water. He receives letters and parcels, can buy food. The believer does not have a Bible.

Vyacheslav Sharov is in a single cell. Sometimes he has changes in blood pressure, he is given medications, as well. They pass parcels and letters. The man does not have a Bible.

The solitary confinement cell where Oleg Zhukov is kept has a refrigerator, a kettle and hot water. In the library of the pre-trial detention center, he was given Gospels. He receives letters and parcels.

The court replaces the restriction measure for Vyacheslav Sharov, Aleksey Gorokhov and Oleg Zhukov from pre-trial detention to house arrest.

The preventive measure for all six defendants — Timoshchenko, Gorev, Bagin, Zhukov, Sharov, and Gorokhov — has been changed by the court from house arrest to a recognizance agreement. The electronic monitoring bracelets were removed from the believers.

The case goes to the Sayanogorsk City Court. Judge Mariya Avdonina will review it.

Interrogation of operative officer Kuznetsov from the FSB Directorate, who conducted operational-investigative measures involving Zhukov and Gorev. He considers any information, such as money transfers, phone passwords, or any correspondence, to be an offense. However, he is unable to specify exactly how the defendants broke the law.

Specialist Olga Yakotsuts, who conducted the psycholinguistic and sociological expert study based on three video recordings of religious meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, testifies before the court. She notes that those present behave in a friendly manner and know each other well. The expert did not record any calls to overthrow the government or incite hatred toward members of other religions.

Witnesses for the prosecution who attended the meetings for worship of the believers are being questioned. According to them, at such meetings participants read the Bible, discuss it, and exchange spiritual thoughts that they found during their personal reading.

One of the women explains that Jehovah's Witnesses helped her rebuild her home after a fire. Another says that Bible principles helped her preserve her marriage; by following them, she decided to work on herself and improve her qualities to be a good wife. Yet another woman says that after the death of her son, she sought comfort in various religions, and found support from Jehovah's Witnesses.

The court is questioning officer Konstantin Volovik. The lawyer notes that the testimony of this FSB officer almost repeats verbatim the indictment drafted by the investigator.

The next witness to be questioned reports only on events related to the period before April 2017. Two other witnesses point out that the protocols do not match their statements. Another witness for the prosecution describes the believers as kind people who study the Bible.

The court questions FSB Directorate officer Kuznetsov, who conducted operational-investigative measures regarding Zhukov and Gorev. He states that he did not personally examine the physical evidence and knows about it only from his colleagues. Kuznetsov considers the use of a password on the phone, video calls, and so on to be indications of an offense in the believers' actions.

Next, the court questions expert Olga Yakotsuts, who conducted a psycholinguistic expert study of three videos of religious meetings. According to her, the atmosphere in the videos is peaceful: those present are friendly and happy to see each other, and there are no signs of hierarchy. She found no calls for violence, hatred toward members of other religions, or disobedience to the authorities.

The court examines the character references for the defendants. Gorokhov and Zhukov work as electrolytic process operators at the RUSAL company — the former since 2006, the latter since 1999. Aleksey's employer describes him as a diligent and hardworking person, while Oleg is described as calm and helpful.

About Gorev, a neighbor writes: "Very smart, kind, and even-tempered — he sets an example of how to live healthily." Other neighbors note that Aleksandr "actively participates in village life and develops the sports ground." According to Timoshchenko's relatives, Viktor "has never encouraged any illegal activity." A neighbor of Bagin writes that Yevgeniy "is polite and helpful — whatever you ask, he will do: mow the grass, trim the trees."

The court questions linguistics expert Ivan Kardash. He reports that in the three examined video recordings of meetings for worship, he did not find any statements suggesting the superiority of one group over another on religious grounds.

Next, religious studies expert Radiy Ibragimov is questioned. In his words, the participants in the meetings are simply believers and not members of a legal entity. He also notes that there is no significant difference between the Synodal translation of the Bible and the translation published by Jehovah's Witnesses.

A witness for the prosecution — Orthodox priest Kuzmin — states that he does not know the believers. He acknowledges that his testimony is based on materials from “cult expert” Aleksandr Dvorkin and publicly available internet sources. When asked by the lawyer if he has ever heard Jehovah's Witnesses call to hate members of another religion, the priest answers: “I have not heard such things.”

The court interrogates the defendants. Yevgeniy Bagin, Vyacheslav Sharov, and Aleksandr Gorokhov deny involvement in the activity of the liquidated legal entity of Jehovah's Witnesses and insist that during meetings for worship, they exercised their constitutional right to freedom of religion.

Bagin refutes the prosecution's claim that “he and the other defendants... intended to bring about socially dangerous consequences by violating the constitutional order and security of the state.” The believer poses a rhetorical question: “If for 8 years I wanted to violate the constitutional order of the state, why did I not do it? And he adds: My religion taught me to respect those in authority. The Bible says: ‘Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities.’”